The mental and physical abuse of minors is widespread and growing in south China's Guangdong Province, a recent survey suggested.

More than half of the children in Guangdong had suffered physical abuse at the hands of their parents and 44 percent had been insulted mentally by teachers, according to the survey by the Children's Department of the Guangdong Provincial Women's Federation.

"We have found that a growing number of children has been subjected to physical violence at home and insulted mentally by teachers," Zhang Liling, the department's director, said yesterday.

"The increasing level of child abuse will, by all means, have a lasting and damaging impact on children's mental health," she added.

Zhang said parents were responsible for most of the physical violence directed at minors, while teachers were behind the mental abuse. "Many parents and teachers seem to think that abuse, either physical or mental, is helpful for children's future development."

The survey of more than 1,200 children and 274 parents indicated that more than half of the parents interviewed were of this view.

In addition, more than 45 percent of parents said it was appropriate for teachers to use "moderate" insults to get children to behave, Zhang said. "The survey shows there is a clear association between maltreatment during childhood and mental health."

Zhang said young people who had been subjected to regular abuse performed significantly worse academically than their peers. They also had higher levels of depression and suicidal tendencies, compared with other children.

The survey coincided with the Campaign of Prevention of Violence Against Children, which was launched in June by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shanxi provinces.

Under the campaign, which lasts for the next five years, a series of studies on children's development will be carried out. The authorities are also expected to draw up measures to prevent child abuse.

"Its goal is to establish a professional system to help abused children," Zhang said.

Citing the survey, Zhang said the increasing level of child abuse had much to do with traditional views of childhood development. "Many parents and teachers care more about children's future development than their dignity and rights." 

Li Liping, an associate professor at the Guangdong-based Shantou University, yesterday called on schools and families to be more aware of children's rights.

"There is an urgent need to promote research and study programs to raise community awareness and prevent violence against children," Li said.

Schools and homes can become dangerous places for children. Maltreatment at the hands of parents and teachers is one of the most serious problems affecting children, Li said.

Teachers and parents should care more about children's psychological development, Li said, adding that government institutions should also play an "active and responsible" role in protecting children's rights.

(China Daily December 21, 2006)