In the past children were protected by their fathers. The fathers had the choice on how to raise their children, and how to punish them. In 1889 this concept changed when the Children’s charter was passed. The Children’s charter allowed the court to step in and separate children form parents who were not caring for their child. In 1894 this charter was amended allowing children to speak in court, and mental cruelty was recognized as a crime. In 1908 the Children’s Act of 1908 was passed. This act set up the juvenile court system and established foster care guidelines. Children and Young Person Act lead to one of the first preventive child abuse acts. In 1968 the children committees were token over and ran by social workers, and then
