Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

In the early 1980s, televised public service announcements in the United States queried, “Parents …it is 10:00 pm, do you know where your children are?” These were launched through the media as reminders for American parents to take a moment and think about their children and to strive to inform themselves of their children‟s activities. Similar broadcasts to urge parents to interact with their children and to provide simple parenting tips have followed in various forms since this time. An interesting realization is that almost all of these “messages” were directed towards the parents by the government for the children.

Given the proliferation of new threats to the safety of all children on a global scale (e.g., inappropriate solicitations over the internet, diminishing international social and political conditions, trafficking, etc.), some might argue that these efforts should be rejuvenated, refocused, rebroadcast internationally, and their direction should be changed. With the global changes in the new millennium, it is more proper for them to originate from the children to the parents and from the government.

Obviously, protecting children on an international level from violence, exploitation and abuse is an integral component of protecting their rights to survival, growth and world development. In turn, this helps them develop into productive citizens who can contribute to their communities (from local neighborhoods to the global community). This is true for any nation and culture. Unfortunately, each year an estimated 300 million children worldwide are subjected to daily violence, exploitation and abuse (Daro, 2006). This includes the worst forms imaginable of child labor, involvement in armed conflict, exposure to female genital mutilation, child marriage, being sold into slavery, or being solicited over the internet.

The purpose of this article is to offer a brief overview of the state of children internationally as it pertains to their levels of abuse, neglect, and needs. The enormity of this topic is obvious, but it is hoped that a basic understanding and appreciation of the definitions, nature and extent, and myriad issues involved can be derived.

Comments

© 2010 International Journal of Justice Studies. All rights reserved.

First Page

26

Last Page

37

Publication Title

International Journal of Justice Studies

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