Systematic child abuse incidents in a children’s residential home in Hong Kong: regulatory and criminal law reform proposals

IF 1.2 4区 法学 Q3 POLITICAL SCIENCE Public Administration and Policy-An Asia-Pacific Journal Pub Date : 2023-10-11 DOI:10.1108/pap-04-2023-0053
Wing-hong Chui, Henry Kao, Aaron H.L. Wong
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Abstract

Purpose The paper aims to recommend legal and regulatory reforms to better prevent child abuse in childcare institutions in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach A summary of investigation report and news reports are referred to in describing the abuse incidents which occurred in a children’s residential home. Routine Activity Theory (RAT) is used as the framework for identifying the causes. Local and overseas legislation, regulations, case law, and policies are analysed to provide recommendations for reforms. Findings There are systematic failures such as workload issues, inadequate supervision, and the absence of continuing professional development (CPD) that contributed to the incidents. The regulations governing the operation of childcare centres and criminal laws against child abuse are long overdue for an update in Hong Kong. On the institutional side, this paper recommends enacting regulations that mandate CPD, lower the staff-to-child ratio, and strengthen the Social Welfare Department’s (SWD) supervisory powers over childcare centres. From the criminal law perspective, it is recommended that “reasonable chastisement” be abolished as a defence of corporal punishment, and that there be new offences for failure to report suspected child abuse incidents and causing or allowing the death/serious harm of a child. Originality/value The child abuse incidents, occurring in a childcare institution, have drawn wide public concern. Reform is required to protect vulnerable children and regain public confidence.
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香港儿童安老院有系统的虐待儿童事件:规管及刑事法例改革建议
目的本文旨在建议法律和监管改革,以更好地防止儿童虐待在香港的托儿机构。设计/方法/方法在描述发生在儿童之家的虐待事件时,参考了调查报告的摘要和新闻报道。日常活动理论(RAT)被用作识别原因的框架。分析本地及海外的法例、规例、判例法及政策,提供改革建议。研究发现,造成这些事件的原因包括工作量问题、监管不足和缺乏持续专业发展(CPD)等系统性失误。规管托儿中心运作的规例和防止虐待儿童的刑事法例,在香港早就应该更新了。在制度方面,本文建议制定法规,强制推行持续专业进修,降低员工与儿童的比例,并加强社会福利署(社署)对幼儿中心的监管权力。从刑法的角度来看,建议废除作为体罚辩护的"合理惩罚",并对不报告涉嫌虐待儿童事件和导致或允许儿童死亡/严重伤害的行为设立新的罪行。发生在托幼机构的虐童事件引起了公众的广泛关注。需要进行改革以保护弱势儿童并重新获得公众的信任。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
2.50
自引率
7.10%
发文量
30
审稿时长
8 weeks
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