Child Victims Research Articles

Using an AI-based avatar for interviewer training at Children's Advocacy Centers: Proof of Concept.

This proof-of- concept study focused on interviewers' behaviors and perceptions when interacting with a dynamic AI child avatar alleging abuse. Professionals (N = 68) took part in a virtual reality (VR) study in which they questioned an avatar presented as a child victim of sexual or physical abuse. Of interest was how interviewers questioned the avatar, how productive the child avatar was in response, and how interviewers perceived the VR interaction. Findings suggested alignment between interviewers' virtual questioning approaches and interviewers' typical questioning behavior in real-world investigative interviews, with a diverse range of questions used to elicit disclosures from the child avatar. The avatar responded to most question types as children typically do, though more nuanced programming of the avatar's productivity in response to complex question types is needed. Participants rated the avatar positively and felt comfortable with the VR experience. Results underscored the potential of AI-based interview training as a scalable, standardized alternative to traditional methods.

Practices of social rehabilitation of sexually abused children

PurposeTo find the most effective ways to support and rehabilitate children suffering from the effects of sexual abuse to improve their quality of life, restore their psychological well-being and provide them with appropriate social support. MethodsThe research used the analytical method and a typological approach. ResultsDifferent types of sexual violence experienced by children including incest, sexual rape, internet rape and sexual exploitation were explored. In addition, the work identified risk factors that contribute to sexual abuse and protective factors that reduce the probability of such incidents occurring. As a result of the research, a programme of work with child victims of sexual abuse was developed, which included six specific stages aimed at the rehabilitation of a child traumatised by sexual abuse. The programme includes getting to know the traumatised child, assessing the fact of sexual abuse, planning the child's care, conducting therapeutic and rehabilitation measures, implementing social and psychological support and monitoring the results of rehabilitation. ConclusionThis research can be used by professionals in the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, social work and medicine who work with children and adolescents who have experienced such trauma.

Mira Kadrić, Mira; Rennert, Sylvi; y Schäffner, Christina (Eds.), Diplomatic & Political Interpreting Explained. Oxford /New York: Routledge 2022. 204 pp.

In diplomacy and statecraft studies, it has been established that the invisible yet omnipresent language interpreters often assume a critical role at international meetings of politicians and diplomats. In contrast to interpreting in everyday settings, interpreting in political and diplomatic settings is high-profile and exclusive for two main reasons. On the one hand, political events and diplomatic missions often involve high-ranking and high-power officials from the field of politics and diplomacy, usually heads of the state, ministers, and military commanders. On the other hand, the impact of these communicative events is far-reaching, extending to peace negotiations, conflict resolutions, and post-conflict peace-building efforts. The outcome of these operations is highly visible and substantive to vulnerable groups and mobile populations, including but not limited to child victims, war-afflicted adults, and displaced and stateless populations.

Child and adolescent victims of sexual homicide in Chile between 1998 and 2021: A review of 27 cases and their autopsy reports.

Rape followed by murder against children and adolescents is one of the most serious existing crimes. The autopsies of victims of violent crimes can provide fundamental findings for the investigative process and the pursuit of justice. This research conducts a descriptive analysis of the most important findings from the autopsies of 27 cases of children and adolescents who died in Chile between 1998 and 2021 as a result of rape followed by homicide (n=27), as well as from the judiciary rulings of these cases to gather information related to the perpetrators. It was found that the victims of this crime are mostly girls with an average age of 10, while the perpetrators are primarily single men aged 29 on average, most of whom have not finished high school. A significant relationship was found between the location of the crime and the cause of death and signs of sexual contact, the marital status of the perpetrator and the cause of death, the age of the perpetrator and signs of sexual contact, and the relationship between victim and perpetrator and signs of sexual contact.

Accuracy of acute hyperglycemia as a biomarker of severe brain damage in children with traumatic brain injury.

Biomarkers are substances measured at the systemic level to evaluate organic responses in certain situations, establishing diagnoses, disease staging, and prognosis. Blood glucose is a biomarker recognized as a predictor of prognosis in children victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The scope of this study was to identify the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of severe brain injury. A retrospective analytical study was conducted through the consecutive review of medical records of children and teenage victims of TBI who underwent neurological surgery between 2016 and 2023 in a level 1 trauma center. Two groups were compared: children with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8 and children with GCS > 8. We calculated the predictive values to define the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of brain injury. Ninety-two medical records were included for analysis. Hyperglycemia predominated in cases with GCS ≤ 8 (48% vs 3%; p < 0.0001; OR, 30; 95% CI, 5.9902-150.2448). The glycemic measurement considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L showed a specificity of 97%, a positive predictive value of 86%, an accuracy of 84%, and a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 16. Victims with GCS ≤ 8 are 16 times more likely to develop acute hyperglycemia after TBI when compared to those with GCS > 8. Blood glucose is a biomarker with an accuracy of 84% to predict severe brain injury, considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L.

Parental Coping Strategies as Predictors and Outcomes of Bullying: Longitudinal Relationships Between Child Victimization, Parent-Child Communication, and Parent-Teacher Consultation.

Parental actions, such as parent-child communication and parent-teacher consultation about a child's social adjustment, have been addressed as predictors, but not as outcomes of victimization. This study, based on the Bronfenbrenner's social-ecological model, considered them as outcomes as well as predictors of child victimization and examined their longitudinal bi-directional relationship with child victimization. Data were drawn from the Seoul Education Longitudinal Study, where a total of 4005 Korean youth (female = 43.6%, age mean = 12.43, SD = 1.48 in the first wave), and their parents (female = 87%) were surveyed for six waves (when the youth were 7th to 12th grade). Autoregressive cross-lagged analyses revealed that child victimization positively predicted parent-teacher consultation and negatively predicted parent-child communication, and of these strategies, only parent-child communication was a statistically significant negative predictor of subsequent victimization. The results of this study suggest that parents tend to talk with teachers instead of their own children when bullying occurs, but it is ineffective in preventing further victimization. Communicating with one's children, which is a less common reaction, appears to be a better preventative measure.

Help-Seeking Among Children Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review aims to summarize current research on help-seeking behaviors and patterns among children who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) victimization and/or are at high risk of exploitation. Because the literature on help-seeking specific to CSEC victimization is limited, the current review was expanded to summarize findings from help-seeking research for children who have experienced harms that often co-occur with CSEC, such as maltreatment and homelessness. The authors searched three large article databases (PsycInfo, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science) for articles that were (a) empirical; (b) measured or used the term "help-seeking" in their framing and/or results; (c) included children between the ages of 12 and 18; (d) primarily focused on children from the United States; (e) published in English. Ultimately, 22 articles met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. Results suggest that cisgender white females are the most likely to seek help, followed by sexual and gender minority children. Cisgender male children were the least likely to engage in help-seeking behaviors. Universally, children were more likely to engage in informal help-seeking rather than formal help-seeking, with younger children being more likely to reach out to parents and older children more likely to reach out to friends. Importantly, ethnically diverse children were under-represented, leading to limited information about how and why these children seek help. Implications for help-seeking by children impacted by commercial sexual exploitation are discussed, providing guidance for programming and research related to CSEC prevention.

Fenomena Pengalaman Pengasuh Anak Korban Kekerasan Fisik di Kota Banda Aceh: Studi Kualitatif

Background: Violence against children is a global phenomenon that poses significant challenges to the health care system because it has serious consequences for victims. Purpose: To examine the experiences of caregivers in Banda Aceh who provide assistance to children who have been physically abused. The event under consideration involves perception, adaption reaction, physiological delivery, supporting the child's adaptation process concerning interdependence, and assisting the child's adaptation process concerning self-concept, role, and function. Methods: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach to its investigation. The caregiver serves as the major informant for this study, providing care and meeting the needs of children who are physically abused. Key informants have traits including providing for the everyday needs of the children they live with, living at home with child victims of violence, and effectively communicating their experiences. Interviews and pertinent literature reviews were used to gather research data, which was subsequently analyzed using the Colaizzi. Results: The study's findings are as follows: 1) The caregiver is aware that the child's perception of physical violence is a result of their wrongdoings, 2) The principal caregiver observes the detrimental effects of physical abuse on the kid, 3) The violent child receives physical assistance from the primary caregiver. current physiological requirements by obtaining resources, 4) By offering moral support, the caregiver assists children who experience physical abuse in their self-concept. 5) Using techniques to enhance the child's role function, the caregiver supports children who have experienced physical abuse in this area, and 6) The caregiver seeks counseling support in order to assist children who are physically abused in the area of interdependence. Conclusion: caregivers are capable of improving perception, adaptation reactions, physiological delivery, supporting the child's adaptation process based on interdependence, and helping the child adapt to self-conceptions, roles, and functions.

Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Hak Anak Korban Pemerkosaan dan Proses Pemeriksaan di Pengadilan Negeri Waingapu

Sexual violence is one form of human rights violations, every degrading, insulting, harassing, and / or attacking the body of the body, and / or a reproductive function of a person is considered a criminal deed. Criminal acts against children become characteristic as a child as a subject that became the focus of the perpetrator in achieving criminal goals. Where the child is part of the young generation that must be protected and expected for the progress of the nation. The purpose of this research: 1. To find out the rights of the rape victim's child in the court of waingapu, 2. To learn legal protection against the rights of the child as a rape victim in waingapu district court. The study was an empirical juxtapossion study involving legal protection against child rape and judicial proceedings at waingapu. The results of this study indicate: 1. Judge's consideration in deciding for the child rape suspect based on ruling number: 79/ pid. SUS /2023/ pn WGP. The two main points for judgment of the judge were, first juridical, in the trial of the law that should be the focus in the verdict of the prosecution's prosecution of the accused, the judgment of the non juridical judge, the judge referring to the conditions of the defendant as referencing the verdict. Two. The kind of protection the rape victim had based on ruling number: 79/ pid. SUS /2023/ pn WGP. Victims have obtained protection such as obtaining a legal escort, during the trial a trial mechanism that guards the child's identity, in addition to child's home-provided child services as a psychic escort. But there are also no optimal countries in providing such protection as access to facilities that should be fast and simple for children.

Developmental Trajectories Leading to Hostility Toward Women: A Structural Equation Modeling Study.

Hostility toward women is frequently examined as a risk factor for violence against women, but research on its antecedents is sparse. The aim of this study was to explore the developmental and psychological antecedents associated with hostility toward women in a Canadian sample of sexual aggressors of women. Drawing on Malamuth's confluence model of sexual aggression, we developed a multifactorial model of hostility toward women, using structural equation modeling. The results indicate the presence of three trajectories, all starting from childhood victimization and leading to hostility toward women, involving antisocial characteristics, emotional negativity, anxiety, and depression.

Handling Child Victims of Incestuous Sexual Violence by The PPA Unit (A Case Study of Sexual Violence by Biological Fathers at the North Jakarta Metro Police)

The process of handling cases of incestuous sexual violence against children by the Child and Woman Protection Unit (PPA) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the North Jakarta Metro Police Department begins with the receipt of reports from victims. Investigators provide initial services, including counseling and preliminary assessments. Legal psychology is crucial in understanding victims and compiling strong reports. Investigators use cognitive interview methods and various interviewing techniques. Victim support involves multiple parties, and inter-agency cooperation and coordination are essential to provide optimal protection and recovery for victims. Evaluating the competence of investigators in the PPA Unit of the North Jakarta Metro Police Department based on indicators set by Spencer and Spencer. This evaluation shows that investigators have adequate abilities to handle cases of child sexual violence, including incest. Motivation, physical characteristics, self-concept, knowledge, and skills of investigators are key in handling these sensitive cases. Identifying several challenges in the investigation process of child rape faced by the PPA Unit of the North Jakarta Metro Police Department. These challenges include difficulty in obtaining statements from victims, lack of direct eyewitnesses, and delays in the forensic examination process. However, the PPA Unit of the North Jakarta Metro Police Department ensures that the investigation process is carried out in accordance with applicable legal procedures, considering steps such as notifying the Prosecutor's Office, examining witnesses, preparing reports, conducting investigations, holding case hearings, and using coercion to apprehend suspects.

The Spatial Scale and Spread of Child Victimization.

Previous research shows that large, densely populated urban areas have higher rates of child victimization that have persisted over time. However, few investigations have inquired about the processes that produce and sustain hot and cold spots of child victimization. As a result, the mechanisms that produce the observed spatial clustering of child victimization, and hence "why" harms against children tend to cluster in space, remains unknown. Does the likelihood of being a victim of violence in one location depend on a similar event happening in a nearby location within a specified timeframe? Rather, are child victims of violence more likely to reside in suboptimal neighborhood conditions? This paper aims to present an analytical and theoretical framework for distinguishing between these locational (point) processes to determine whether the empirical spatial patterns undergirding child victimization are more reflective of the "spread" via contagion (i.e., dependency) or whether they are produced by neighborhood structural inequality resulting from spatial heterogeneity. To detect spatial dependence, we applied the inhomogeneous K-function to Los Angeles Medical Examiner data on child homicide victim locations while controlling for regional differences in victimization events (i.e., heterogeneity). Our analysis found strong evidence of spatial clustering in child victimization at small spatial scales but inhibition at larger scales. We further found limited support for the spatiotemporal clustering of child victimization indicative of a contagion effect. Overall, our results support the role of neighborhood structural vulnerability in the underlying mechanisms producing patterns of child victimization across Los Angeles County. We conclude by discussing the policy implications for understanding this spatial patterning in geographical context and for developing effective and targeted preventive interventions.

Law's drawing line: Legal discourse of consent in child sexual abuse cases in Japan

AbstractThis article examines Japan's age of consent law by delving into court judgements, focusing on unravelling the nuances of how the sexual autonomy of children is interpreted. The study reveals a contradictory stance of the court towards child victim's maturity and capacity, indicating that the legal discourse around a child's autonomy is easily manipulated and framed. It further exposes the susceptibility of children's sexual autonomy to the structural moral values associated with patriarchal gender relations and age. By shaping the contours of consent, law draws a line—delineating punishable acts from consensual sexual activity. While the legal reforms aimed at stricter regulations surrounding child sexual abuse, including raising the age of consent, are narrowing the space for recognizing adolescents' sexual autonomy, this article contends that reforming age consent laws must strike a delicate balance between preventing potential harms and avoiding undue interference with adolescents' sexual autonomy.

Service Model for Women's and Children's Violence Victims of Collaborative Governance and Delivery Service

Purpose: This research aims to determine the Model of Assistance Services for Victims of Violence against Women and Children Based on Collaborative Governance and Delivery Service in the Musi Banyuasin Resort Police Crime and Investigation Unit. Method: This research uses qualitative research. The data sources in this research are Primary Data obtained from respondents' answers during interviews and Secondary Data obtained from documentation at the Women and Children Services Unit (PPA) of the Musi Banyuasin Resort Police Crime and Investigation Unit. Data collection techniques in this research use library studies and field research, and data analysis techniques in this research consist of data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions and verification. Result and Discussion: The results of this research show that the service methods implemented to help victims of violence against women and children in the Musi Banyuasin Resort Police Criminal and Investigation Unit have been effective. They have provided various ways for the public to report problems and request consultation. Meanwhile, in Musi Banyuasin Regency, there are still several weaknesses in running this service even though it generally runs well. Research also suggests that the best way to assist women and child victims of violence is through close collaboration between the government and service providers, as implemented in the counseling program called Si Mapan. Implication of the Research: This research provides a better understanding of how support services for victims of violence against women and children can be improved through a collaborative approach to governance and service delivery. This can guide authorities in developing policies and practices related to the protection of women and children victims of violence in Musi Banyuasin Regency and possibly elsewhere. Originality/Value: This research is valuable because it introduces a new approach to assistance services for victims of violence against women and children, focusing on collaboration in government and service delivery (collaborative governance and service delivery).

Information Security Violations in the Context of Digital Victimization of Children and Adolescents

The article is devoted to the problem of digital victimization of children and adolescents . The research focuses on information security violations of the younger generation . The data on digital risks of mental and physical health, well-being of the younger generation are systematized, the essence, conditions and types of digital victimization are revealed . The main types of violations of the safety of children and adolescents in the digital environment are presented . The following mechanisms of destructive influence in the digital environment are presented: penetration into trust, manipulation, humiliation, dissemination of distorted information, etc . Psychological indicators of digital victimization of modern children and adolescents are systematized . The social and psychological predictors of digital victimization of children and adolescents are highlighted: family, pedagogical, age, clinical, personal, etc . The results of an empirical study of the digital victimization of children and adolescents are presented

HATRED IN CYBERSPACE: ON THE CZECH REPUBLIC ADOLESCENT’S EXPERIENCE

Relevance. The study aimed to examine the experience of Czech adolescents with cyberhate as observers, victims and perpetrators. In addition, the study focused on parents and guardians of adolescents, their exposure to cyberhate, and knowledge of their children's victimization through cyberhate. Methodology. Sample: In total, 3,087 Czech adolescents aged 11-16 (49.8% - girls) and their parents or caregivers (67.0% - women) were interviewed. Methods. An online survey (CAWI method) was used to collect the data. The survey was conducted by the media research agency STEM/MARK. Results. The results show that cyberbullying was the most common occurrence among adolescents (59.3%). The experience increased with age, and its prevalence was highest among 15-16-year-old respondents. Boys and older adolescents reported intentionally seeking out cyberhate more often than girls and younger. The majority of adolescents reported being exposed to cyberhate unintentionally. Reports of cyberhate victimization also increased with age, but no significant gender differences were found. The most common reason for cyberhate victimization was sexual orientation. Only a minority of respondents (7.5%) reported being cyberbullied, and this was the least common experience. Also in this case, the most common reason for cyber-hate was sexual orientation. The results show that parents and caregivers tend to underestimate their children's victimization experiences. Only a minority of them knew what had happened to their child

Domestic Violence Victimization Risk Assessment in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Background: Risk assessment is the process of collecting information towards the goal of protecting the physical and psychological integrity of the victim, taking into account factors associated with violence to assess the severity of violence, protect victims, and prevent recidivism. This type of risk assessment is commonly used in situations of domestic violence and needs to be adjusted for the contexts of child and adolescent victimization. Objective: Resources and standardized criteria to guide a child-centered domestic violence victimization risk assessment are lacking. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the instruments, risk factors and outcomes identified in the literature for situations of domestic violence involving children. Methods: Following the PRISMA protocol, 313 articles from the EBSCO, Web of Science and PubMed databases were screened and 13 were identified for analysis. Results: An analysis of the characteristics of some instruments created to assess the impact of domestic violence involving children shows that caregivers’ risk factors are strong predictors of child abuse, highlighting the interrelationship with other factors, as well as warning about the cumulative risk, including child homicide. Conclusions: The literature confirms the importance of family system factors regarding the risk of the mistreatment of children in situations of domestic violence. Risk assessment must cater to the needs and specificities of individual children.

The Role of Coping Strategies in Children’s Repeated Suggestive Interviews

Often in the forensic context, child victims and witnesses are interviewed several times, exposing them to suggestive questions and social pressures. The present study had the main purpose of verifying the effect of coping strategies on the levels of immediate suggestibility and on the Resistant Behavioral Responses (RBRs) of children subjected to repeated suggestive interviews. A sample of 90 children, aged between 11 and 14, were administered the two parallel Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (GSS2 and GSS1) a few months apart and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) to detect their coping strategies. The results showed that the avoidance coping increased suggestive vulnerability and reduced resistant responses. Task-oriented coping favored responses with greater source monitoring, which allow for the rejection of misleading information. Coping strategies did not show direct effects on the management of the socioemotional aspects involved in the suggestive interaction. After the negative feedback that invites children to be more accurate, a smaller effect of the avoidance strategy was recorded, indicating how actively requesting greater source monitoring can lead children to better recognize misleading information.

On the implementation and functioning of the «Barnahus»

The aim of the work is to study and analyze the Barnahus model through the prism of European experience and the legal system of Ukraine. The methodological basis of the study is the dialectical method of scientific knowledge, since the genesis of the «Barnachus» model was revealed with its help. From the standpoint of the value approach, legal ideas, the normative legal framework and law enforcement practice were investigated. The work uses such general scientific methods as: system analysis, ascent from the general to the specific, analogy, generalization, comparison, as well as the principle of historicism, social and objective approach, which contributed to the disclosure of the features of the «Barnachus» model as a whole and its components, in particular. Special-legal methods, such as comparative- legal, formal-dogmatic, sociological-legal, cultural-legal. Results. The article is devoted to the Barnahus model, which is currently an innovative model at the European level in the field of combating violence against children and child-friendly justice. Ukraine, striving to become a full-fledged member of the European Union, has undertaken a number of obligations, including to provide children with additional procedural guarantees during their interrogation (questioning) in criminal proceedings. The article examines and analyzes the Barnahus model through the prism of European experience and the legal system of Ukraine. The author analyzes the basic ideas of the Barnahus model; examines the peculiarities of the formation and development of the Barnahus model in the legal systems of Scandinavian countries; clarifies the European quality standards of the Barnahus model as a result of the PROMISE network; examines the organizational and legal framework for the implementation and functioning of the Barnahus model in Ukraine; analyzes the impact of national legislation on the functioning of the Barnahus model in Ukraine, revealing certain problematic aspects. Conclusion. It is established that the Barnahus model is a multidisciplinary program for child victims and child witnesses of violence or cruelty, organized in a child-friendly environment and under one roof to ensure effective protection, quick access to justice, and the provision of necessary services. It is proved that its main task is to cooperate «under one roof» of an interagency and interdisciplinary team involved in juvenile criminal justice for effective coordinated work (collecting evidence, providing services, creating a child-friendly environment, helping to return to their usual life, etc.) and achieving maximum interaction with child witnesses or child victims of violence or cruelty.

Hostile Masculinity, Male Peer Support for Violence, and Problematic Anger: Linking Childhood Abuse to Men's Partner Violence Perpetration.

Child abuse and masculinity have been linked to intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. However, there is a lack of work examining multiple aspects of masculinity as links between early abuse experiences and men's IPV perpetration. Grounded in notions of gendered power and patriarchy, this study aimed to examine hostile masculinity, male peer support for violence against women, and problematic anger as aspects of masculinity connecting childhood victimization and men's violence against women. Structural equation modeling results demonstrated that childhood adversity was indirectly related to IPV perpetration via the proposed factors. However, various patterns emerged based on the type of childhood abuse experienced. Practice-based implications are offered.