The Social Welfare Department’s [SWD] recently released figure of child abuse cases in the first quarter of this year, stood at 379, an increase of 30 per cent over the same period last year. Over 40 per cent of these involved physical harm and 30 per cent sexual abuse. The elderly also suffered abuse, with 76 cases were recorded just in the first quarter of the year. Almost 80 percent of them were related to physical abuse and about 10 percent involved multiple types of abuse. This situation absolutely concerns us.
Abuse not only entails physical harm, but also mental and psychological abuse, negligence, abandonment, embezzlement of property, sexual abuse, deliberate action or inaction which causing physical and psychological damage and danger for another person. Since children and the elderly are weaker in terms of power and social status, they rely on the support of others. People tend to take advantage of the differences in power dynamics to hurt others both intentionally and unintentionally.
According to the SWD statistics, in child abuse cases, almost 50 per cent of the abusers were parents, followed by classmates and friends. In elderly abuse cases, about 70 per cent of victims were abused by spouses or close partners, followed by their children. Domestic helpers and the staff of the service providers for the elderly also committed elderly abuse.
The drastic increase of the number of child abuse cases during the Covid-19 pandemic, we might think it was because family members were crammed at home because people were working from home and school classes ewre suspended.
Cramped living environments and incompatible living habits also triggered domestic conflicts, and families had to learn accommodate one another to avoid them. Pressure might grow wiht children and the elderly at home for an extended period, while parents and children had to reorganise their work schedules.
In addition, the pandemic affected the economy, many people lost their jobs. When people are burdened by economic and family pressures without relief, its easy to vent negative emotions on family members, which can escalate into domestic violence. Irreparable tragedies may then happen.
There are plenty of social welfare organisations offering emotional support and domestic assistance in Hong Kong. If you and the people you know are troubled by problems like this, please do not hesitate to seek help. One of them is Caritas which provieds domestic support and care for the elderly and the weak during the pandemic.
Pope Francis recently released his message for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, with the theme: “They shall bear fruit even in old age, they will stay fresh and green” [Psalm 92:15]. The elderly might be old and weak, but he emphasised that they can still be a family member, make a significant contribution to the Church and bear fruit. Elders deserve to be treated well. Let us work together to build a harmonious family. SE
