Good Neighbors Conducts Child Abuse Prevention Campaign 'Learning Parents, Growing Children'

Good Neighbors Jeonnam Western Branch and Mokpo City Conduct Campaign to Prevent and Eradicate Child Abuse

Guidance on Proper Parenting Methods and Healthy Communication with Children, and Signature Campaign for Child Abuse Prevention and Eradicati

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Good Neighbors Jeonnam Western Branch announced on the 14th that it conducted a child abuse prevention campaign titled ‘Learning Parents, Growing Children’ targeting Mokpo citizens at Peace Square in Mokpo City in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Day.

The prevention campaign was held in collaboration with Mokpo City Hall, Mokpo Police Station, and Jeollanam-do Youth Sexual Culture Center.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s major statistics on child abuse (2021), the number of child abuse cases in South Korea has shown a continuous increase, rising from 22,367 cases in 2017 to 37,605 cases in 2021.

Additionally, among the types of abusers in 2021, parents accounted for 83.7%, and among the locations where child abuse occurred, 84.2% took place within the home.

This indicates that despite the abolition of disciplinary rights under Article 915 of the Civil Act in January last year, child abuse by parents within the home continues to increase.

According to the National Human Rights Commission’s 2021 research report on the status and improvement plans for parent education to prevent child abuse, 9 out of 10 parents with infants and elementary school children responded that parent education is necessary, showing a high willingness to participate in education related to desirable communication methods with children and parenting methods.

In response, Good Neighbors is conducting the child abuse prevention campaign ‘Learning Parents, Growing Children’ to raise social awareness of child abuse issues and guide healthy and proper parenting methods.

This campaign provides guidance on proper communication methods with children and includes ▲development of lifecycle-based parent education programs according to children’s age ▲establishment of practical measures to mandate parent education ▲participation in signature campaigns to strengthen comprehensive policies for the prevention and eradication of child abuse.

Im Gwangmuk, head of Good Neighbors Jeonnam Western Branch, said, “We hope this campaign will serve as an opportunity to improve awareness and interest among local community residents regarding child abuse,” adding, “Going forward, Good Neighbors Jeonnam Western Branch will strive for the healing of abused children and the recovery of families.”

Dae Yumin, director of Jeollanam-do Youth Sexual Culture Center, stated, “It was good to have an opportunity to inform local community residents about children’s rights to be protected and to grow up safely.”

The ‘Learning Parents, Growing Children’ campaign is open for participation by anyone on the Good Neighbors website and is also conducted offline at 37 Good Neighbors branches nationwide.

Signatures collected both online and offline will be delivered to the National Assembly and related government agencies in the future.

Good Neighbors Jeonnam Western Branch conducts specialized child welfare projects to help children facing abuse, poverty, and psychological and emotional difficulties, as well as marginalized children, grow into healthy members of society. In particular, it plays a leading role in various programs for abused children and families and in the field of child abuse prevention.