Child Abuse Prevention Hinges on Stronger Parent Education and Social Safety Nets

Voices are calling for more systematic parent education and a robust social support system to protect children and families in need, emphasizing the importance of preventing child abuse.

South Korea ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, fulfilling its international commitment to guarantee the rights of children under 18. In a reality where child rights violations are reported almost daily, the importance of preventing child abuse is increasingly highlighted. Despite the government's efforts to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks, child abuse cases continue unabated, with abuse by parents within the home being overwhelmingly prevalent. Recently, there has been a rising trend in emotional abuse and multiple forms of abuse.

In response, South Korea is this year promoting the nationwide expansion of early childhood health management services and strengthening cooperation with the police to establish a state-led detection system and enhance post-abuse management effectiveness. It has been proposed that activating parent education, including child rights education and pre-parental education, is key to prevention by building a social safety net.