CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Imagine being a child who fears his own parents. Imagine being a child who has to live with the fear of getting beaten up every single day of life. Imagine being a child who does not want her mom to leave for work because she knows that she will be sexually abused by her caretaker as soon as her mom leaves. Imagine being a child who has no one to share his thoughts with. This makes it clear that the topic I am going to address today is child abuse and neglect.

One of the earliest incidents of child abuse reported is of Mary Ellen Wilson, whose case of child abuse (1874) led to the creation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC). As an eight-year-old, she was severely abused by her foster parents. Since, at that time, laws preventing cruelty to children were not made, she was removed from her home using the laws preventing cruelty to animals. It is also said that it was Mary, who finally put a human face on child abuse.

Now, we are going to watch a video about one such kid, who is being physically abused in his home.

 

 

The video lays an emphasis on the topic of ‘Child abuse’, and also highlights the need of child helplines in the society.

Through the use of intrinsic and extrinsic proofs, the exigence of child abuse is emphasized to make the audience aware of the trauma that abused children undergo.

Talking about the mode of persuasion, the video establishes the need for the society to make them realize that it is inappropriate to beat kids to make them learn; be it stuff related to education, daily life chores, or code of conduct. Just because the child does not retaliate, he should not be taken for granted as a stress buster object.

Emotions play a great role in involving a great amount of audience in the video, making them aware of the heinous acts against children.

1. To start with, the video uses a large amount of pathos making the audience emotional. When it comes to the topic of children, the audience becomes sensitive automatically. Child helpline makes the best use of these to support their claim and invoke a sense of responsibility in the citizens.
2. The kid being abused physically, his speech remaining unheard, he has been neglected, and his confidence shattered, all these strike our mind.

Child abuse isn’t just about bruises, black eyes, or broken bones, it is more than that.

1. Since the video is created by ISPCC (established in 1956 and working in the field of preventing children rights since then), it proves the credibility of this advert addressing the prevalent issue of child abuse and the urgent need to stop it.
2. Also, the bruises and the plight of the kid in the video makes it more appealing.
3. Though his words, which are motivating and inspiring, are in contrast to his condition, they leave the audience awestruck.

There is an extensive use of commonplace in the video to make it more appealing to the audience, to let them know that these crimes, generally take place in known places and are committed by known people.

1. I believe that family is supposed to foster love, care and raise the kid up with patience and attention, but the home shown in the video does not relate to a normal home. In the video, it becomes a place of fear for the child.
2. Home has been identified as a commonplace in the video because it is seen that it is the place where the child suffers, is shoved into the walls by his dad, literally for nothing.

 

Conclusion Statement: Child abuse, a relatively global issue, often hushed by all (the family, the society and the managers of society) needs to be resolved by us. Sufferings and depression, if last long, can turn into a disability. As the future leaders and parents, we want to create an environment safe for the generations to come. My presentation on this topic is just a drop in the ocean as this is a universal issue. The pain of the victim is so deep that no one can imagine his/her plight. It leaves an indelible mark on the soul. The physical injuries and scars can still be seen and cured but the scars that the suffering leaves on the soul of the victim last forever and ever.