아동학대 방지를 위한 정책방안에 관한 연구

Abstract

Although children as independent characters are entitled to be safetly protected and grow happily, many children are abused or neglected by their parents or at home. Nevertheless, since children's abuse at home cannot be easily identified outside home and people have a biased view and fixed idea of children's abuse, it cannot well be highlighted as a social issue, and therefore, the counter-measures or policies may be limited. Despite children's abuses spread wide in our society, people seem to be less aware of them, while their counter-measures are negative. Under such circumstances, this study was aimed at reviewing the conditions and problems of children's abuse, and thereby, exploring the preventive measures based on advanced nations' cases. The policy measures can be suggested as follows in addition in legal, institutional and social terms; First, it is necessary to explore the measures to prevent children's abuse positively. Second, it is desirable to design a medical program to prevent children's abuse. Third, it is required to reinstate the legal framework. In order to identify or prevent children's abuses and treat the affected children, it is essential for the society to intervene in children's abuses positively and actively according to legal procedures. Fourth, administrative and financial supports are required. Particularly at the initial stage of the legal intervention, it would be difficult to secure a budget and garner people's support but pertinent authorities are obliged to prepare themselves thoroughly for implementation of the law in cooperation with the relevant organizations. Fifth, the social support system should be impmved. In order to prevent children's abuse, legal, administrative, financial and social supports are essential. Although the family is primarily responsible for rearing the children sound and healthy, the government is urged to support the families so that they may discharge their mles faithfully. After all, children's abuse is not simply an intra-family problem but a social issue, and in this vein, the government is obliged to prevent children's abuse, while assisting the families in rearing their children. Summing up, it is necessary for the society or relevant public organizations to identify children's abuses and intervene in children's treatment according to a code (Children's Abuse Prevention Code) and, furthermore, protect the affected children at a facility, not returning to their abusing parents.