CHILD RAPE & ABUSE
HELPING CHILDREN FROM VIOLENT HOMES

There are various avenues of assistance of which all children should be made aware in cases of domestic violence. Help should be obtained as early as possible in order to minimise the harm that comes to children involved in domestic violence.

• Children should talk to their mothers about their feelings and should reveal any abuse they might be suffering.

• If the mother fails to assist the child, the child should turn to another responsible adult. Children should be comfortable to approach adults whom they trust as these adults may be able to implement strategies of intervention in conjunction with childcare authorities.

• If children are unable to obtain help from adults known to them, they should contact any of the childcare organisations that operate telephone helplines.

• Various treatment programmes and approaches for victims of domestic violence have been developed by mental health professionals. These approaches include promoting open discussion about children's experiences with domestic violence, assisting children in dealing with emotions that follow exposure to domestic violence and assisting children and their families in creating relationships free from violence and abuse.

• Professionals who are in regular contact with families and children exposed to domestic violence should have ongoing training relating to domestic violence. These professionals include teachers, childcare workers, nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers, welfare workers and court personnel.
  
  
• Police should identify child witnesses at the scene of violence and obtain necessary help for them.
  
  
• Domestic violence needs to be brought under control and all parents should address their relationship problems proactively and constructively, thereby avoiding direct or indirect harm to their children.