Violence towards Child: Survey study in the basic schooling, education in Syria
Syria, Education, 2/24/2004

A study was issued recently in Damascus under the title "violence towards Children: Survey study in the basic schooling, education in Syria." The study which was made in collaboration between the ministry of social affairs and Labor, the ministry of education and Damascus UNICEF office was conducted by Dr. Mouta Barakat, and Dr. Iman Ezz, both are teachers at the mental health department, Faculty of education of Damascus University.

The importance of the research stems from the fact that although most of the countries worldwide signed the child's right agreement, it still far from reaching the ideal objective. However, the essence of child's right agreement implies knowing first the problems children face. Thus the importance of the research in the first place lies in the commitment of the Syrian government, namely the ministries of social affairs and labor and UNICEF.

Moreover, the research aims at identifying the most common violent practices against children, at home, school, street or the mass media. The research also aims to identify the extent of the frequency of these practices, if they are correlated with certain situations rather than others.

The main questions raised by the study are on whether there are differences between male and female in terms of violence type, any connection between the population density at home and type and severity of violence; the most violent members of the family against the child and other relevant questions.

The research population consists of three main strata: the students of the basic schooling in Syria, the student's parents, and their teachers.

The research finds out that in the family, the most common type of violence was the critical words, insults and swearing, whereas the minimal type was the lockup.

In school, the research says the critical marks were the most frequent type of violence whereas the minimal was threatening of throwing students out of the school. However, threatening to reduce student's score is the most frequent type of violence from teacher's own point of view.

In the street, the research finds that the critical and insulting words and swearing were the most common type of violence, whereas the least was stealing.

As for the second question on the severest types of violence towards children at home, school and street, the findings demonstrate that most of the students are exposed to moderate violence ( approximately 44% ), mild violence (approximately 40 %) and as for the severe violence ( approximately 16 %).

For the third question on the educational level of parents and its connection with the type and severity of violence, the research reveals the existence of significant difference in favor of the children whose parents educational level was primary schooling or less.

The finding on the four question on the relationship of the child order among his siblings and the type and severity of violence shows that there is a positive significant correlations between the order variable and the extent of violence prevalence in the family. Thus the first child is the one with the least exposure to violence.

For the fifth question on who is the most violent member of the family in the different situations, the findings illustrate that the mother is the most common violent member of the family, then the father, the first older brother, then the sister, then the step, mother and others.

As for the 6th question on mother's employment or unemployment and the connection with type and severity of violence towards child, the research tells that there are no significant differences between the employed and unemployed mothers in almost all the violent situations.

On the 7th question on the relationship between the domestic population density and the type and severity of violence at home, the research indicates that there is a positive correlation between the density of the family and the severity of violence in every violent situation.

For the 8th question on the differences between the city and rural areas children in terms of type and violence severity, at home, school, peer group and streets, the findings note significant differences in favor of the rural areas children in all violent situations, excluding the first situation ( arriving home late).

On the 9th question on the difference between males and females, the findings demonstrate that males go through violent experiences at home, school, peers and street, more than females, and they practice violence more than females.

As for the 10th question on the difference between 5th and 8th grades in terms of types and severity of violence, the findings show that there are difference between them in favor of the 8th grade in connection with family, school peers and street.

On the 11th question, on the difference between children of private, public and UNRWA schools, the results show that there are differences between private and public school students, while there is not any difference between private and public and UNRWA schools. As for the dominance of violence from teacher's side, the finding demonstrate that public and UNRWA schools are showed sever violence more than the private ones in all types of violent behaviors.

In their concrete research, the two researchers recommend to manage the availability of specific mechanisms to follow up and monitor the cases, such as the physical, emotional and sexual abuse. On reaching an agreement in this regard, as well as adopting the agreed mechanisms by an authorized body, a designated committee may define appropriate norms and criteria, then all those in contact with children may be able to check these indicators and norms.

They also recommend taking necessary measures and developing programs for informative and educational campaigns, as well as programs that may provide practical solutions, advice and assistance from varied sources, such as medical, psychological, social and legal aspects.

The study recommends also attracting and promoting researchers' attention towards conducting research and studies in the area of violence against child in general so as to address its volume, and the mechanisms according to which it might grow, develop or vanish.

As this survey research is the first at the local level, the two researchers call for advocating qualified scientific canters, to appoint and qualify personnel in different specialization such as medicine, psychology, the law and sociology so as to deal with the sever cases on violence against child. They also recommend taking measures and developing programs for providing protection to maltreated children from offenders. They also recommend to reactivate the role of the Supreme committee for Childhood in coordinating efforts pertinent to children issues as well as to develop a national plan of action to deal with children against children. The sides to be involved in such efforts are the ministries of education, social affairs and labor, interior and justice in collaboration with other governmental sides concerned.

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