ESL Blogs

Safeguarding

What is safeguarding

Safeguarding is protecting vulnerable adults and children from abuse or neglect. Safeguarding is making sure people are supported and get good access to health care and stay well and happy in their lives and get equal rights. It might be difficult to accept. But any one can be hurt, put at risk of harm or abused, regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity.

What is abuse

Abuse is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights by another person or persons. It's an attempt to control the behaviour of another person and is a misuse of power which uses the bonds of intimacy, trust and dependency to make the victim more vulnerable. Abuse can be Physical, Sexual, verbal, Financial, Emotional or Psychological, discriminatory,Isolation and neglect.

Physical

Physical abuse is any intentional and unwanted contact with a person. Physical abuse may include pushing, hitting, shoving, slapping, kicking, throwing, punching, spitting, pinching, hair pulling, chocking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions, using or threatening to use a weapon.

Verbal

Verbal abuse is an abusive behaviour involving the use of the language. It is criticizing, name calling, put downs threatening and also blaming. Verbal abuse can affect the individual's positive emotional development.

Financial

Financial abuse occurs when a person not allowed to have money or any control over money. It can be running up large debts in the person's name or selling their possessions with out permission, steals money, makes to pay for other people's things, take things belongs to a person.

Emotional / Psychological

Emotional abuse is the ongoing emotional maltreatment or emotional neglect of a child or a vulnerable adult. It's also called as psychological abuse. Though emotional abuse doesn't leave physical scars, it can have a huge impact on people's confidence and self- esteem. Few examples of this abuse include insulting an individual's family or friends, ridiculing the persons beliefs, race or religion, using constant put downs, threatening suicide if leave, keeping as a prisoner in home, threatening to take the children if leave.

Discriminatory

Discriminatory abuse is when some one treated unfairly because they are different. This can include unfair or less favourable treatment due to a person’s race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexuality, appearance or cultural background.

Isolation

Isolation is Limiting the individual's out side involvement. Isolating from the people we love, limiting our actions. The abuser may block the victims friends and family and access to use a vehicle, or telephone services in the home

Neglect

Neglect is a passive form of abuse in which perpetrator is responsible to provide care for a person who is unable to care for himself or herself but fails to provide adequate care. Neglect occurs when a child or vulnerable adult doesn't have adequate food, housing, clothes, medical care or supervision

Abusers

The person who is responsible for the abuse is often well known to the person who is been abused or mistreated. They could be Spouse or partners, other family members, neighbours, friends, acquaintances, local residents, strangers, health care workers and also some one who is provide service for the person.

Every body has the right to be safe no matter who they are and what are their circumstances. Never feel embarrassed about highlighting abuse and do not be afraid to complain about abuse. We are all responsible for the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We must ensure that we are doing all we can to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

Dear friends, The reason I wrote this blog is, friend of mine was in a abusive relationship for many years. She got three beautiful children with the abuser and financially depend on that person.  It stopped her from ending that relationship. But after many years of abuse she decided to leave that person. Now she looks much happier and working full time. No one there to control her and tell her what to do and where to go. Her face is clean with out any bruise. I always worried about her, now I am happy for her because she made a wise decision to leave that abuser.

Thank you so much for reading. Please share your valuable opinions, Much appreciated.