The Global Victimization of Children

16This book describes the concept of child victimization in all its facets. Millions of young people throughout the world face violence, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and exploitation on a daily basis. The worldwide victimization of young people can be prevented, or, at least, its incidence can be greatly reduced, if purposeful action is taken to do so. This volume documents some of the ways in which young people throughout the world are victimized, and suggests strategies for preventing various forms of child victimization. Eight distinct forms of victimization are identified and analyzed in detail. Included are discussions on child prostitution and pornography, economic exploitation through child labor and trafficking, physical and other abuse inflicted on young people in schools and other institutions, the use of children as armed combatants, and the denial of the basic needs and rights of children to such things as home and to education. In each chapter the authors discu16ss the nature of the victimization, its global dimensions and prevalence, and the measures governments and/or others are taking, or failing to take, to combat the harm based on the concept that youth victimization is a form of government crime.04Chapter 1: IntroductionThe ProblemVarieties of VictimizationChild Victimization as a CrimeAddressing the ProblemChapter 2: Child LaborWhy Children WorkExtent & PrevalenceChildren s Work: Issues in Child LaborThe Victimization of Children Who WorkThe LawEliminating Child LaborConclusionChapter 3: Abandoned Children and Street ChildrenDefinition of TermsPrevalenceThe Children Behind the NumbersSurviving the StreetsSocial NetworksStreet Children as VictimsAddressing the ProblemConclusionChapter 4: Child SoldiersDefinition of a Child Soldier The Law Extent and PrevalenceNature of VictimizationHow Children Become Child SoldiersAddressing the ProblemConclusionChapter 5: Trafficking Definition of Child Trafficking Form of TraffickingPrevalenceCauses of TraffickingVictims and VictimizersRecruiting and Controlling VictimsHealth HazardsLawsPrevention and HelpConclusionChapter 6: Child PornographyThe ProblemPrevalenceThe Role of the InternetOffend04ersVictimsLaws Against Child PornographyDealing With the Problem and PreventionConclusionChapter 7: Institutional AbsuseDefinitionSchoolsOrphanages and Residential CareDetention and Correctional InstitutionsStopping Institutional VictimizationConclusionChapter 8: Denial of EducationEducation is EssentialPrevalenceBarriers to EducationIssues in Educating the YoungThe Color of (Ill-Spent) MoneyGender and Education: The Case of GirlsPower of Social StratificationInternational Laws and InitiativesAchieving Universal Education ConclusionChapter 9: Peer VictimizationDefinining TermsCounting Peer Victimization Victims and VictimizersThe Harm Kids Can DoConditions Conducive to Peer VicitimizationPreventionConclusionChapter 10: Fighting Child VictimizationAt the Individual LevelAt the Organizational LevelSystemic ApproachesConcluding Thoughts