According to the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a 'child' is defined as a person below the age of 18, unless the relevant laws recognize an earlier age of majority. Generally, the concept of childhood is thought of as a straight-forward and self-explanatory one; however, some scholars like Collings, S. and Davies, L. (2008) argue that when we talk about children, very often ideas about childhood are taken for granted, are emotionally resonant, and are differently understood from one cultural context to another. They have identified, through a study they conducted on child protection workers in Ontario, Canada, four main different discourses of childhood: (1) the child as vulnerable and innocent; (2) the child
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Viewing the child as holding human rights has some benefits to the protection of children, since this view takes into consideration the importance of guaranteeing children the same rights to security and dignity that adults have (Collings & Davies, 2008). According to the CRC, children everywhere have the following basic human rights: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse, and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural, and social life. The four guiding principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival, and development; and respect for the views of the child. These rights and principles are among the internationally accepted human rights of the United Nations. Despite the fact that the CRC focuses on universality, it also acknowledges that every culture has a specific image of childhood and, consequently, admits that within the cultural background, a child will have specific needs and rights (Mijnarends, …show more content…
In many parts of the Arab World, moreover, physical violence is viewed as an effective and normal child-rearing practice (Makhoul et al, 2004). It seems therefore that in many cases, there is a mix between what is considered as adult-inflicted violence which leads to child abuse or maltreatment, on the one hand, and verbal and physical discipline on the other. The two, however, are different: the former involves non-accidental injury, while the latter in the great majority of cases does not involve it (McKee et al, 2007). The latter, furthermore is implemented for purposes of correction or control, i.e. as an aspect of socialization (Straus & Paschall, 2009) whereas the former is usually a reaction to conditions of increased stress and scarcity of resources, such as low socioeconomic status or unemployment, or to increased family stress resulting from overcrowded conditions in big families or from health problems or from family conflicts etc. (Sadowski et al, 2004). In some cases also adult-inflicted violence results from adults whom themselves had experienced maltreatment as children (Sadowski et al,
Viewing the child as holding human rights has some benefits to the protection of children, since this view takes into consideration the importance of guaranteeing children the same rights to security and dignity that adults have (Collings & Davies, 2008). According to the CRC, children everywhere have the following basic human rights: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse, and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural, and social life. The four guiding principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival, and development; and respect for the views of the child. These rights and principles are among the internationally accepted human rights of the United Nations. Despite the fact that the CRC focuses on universality, it also acknowledges that every culture has a specific image of childhood and, consequently, admits that within the cultural background, a child will have specific needs and rights (Mijnarends, …show more content…
In many parts of the Arab World, moreover, physical violence is viewed as an effective and normal child-rearing practice (Makhoul et al, 2004). It seems therefore that in many cases, there is a mix between what is considered as adult-inflicted violence which leads to child abuse or maltreatment, on the one hand, and verbal and physical discipline on the other. The two, however, are different: the former involves non-accidental injury, while the latter in the great majority of cases does not involve it (McKee et al, 2007). The latter, furthermore is implemented for purposes of correction or control, i.e. as an aspect of socialization (Straus & Paschall, 2009) whereas the former is usually a reaction to conditions of increased stress and scarcity of resources, such as low socioeconomic status or unemployment, or to increased family stress resulting from overcrowded conditions in big families or from health problems or from family conflicts etc. (Sadowski et al, 2004). In some cases also adult-inflicted violence results from adults whom themselves had experienced maltreatment as children (Sadowski et al,