RNCA-20

Securing Our Community... Strengthening Our Commitment COMMUNITY GUIDE Child Abuse Awareness

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1 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Thank you to the residents and businesses of Newfoundland and Labrador for supporting our 30th Annual RNC Association Community Guide! Over the past 30 years, the generous support from citizens and businesses in our community has helped us to deliver valuable public safety information to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. This year’s community guide focuses on “Child Abuse Awareness”. We are proud to support the Kids Help Phone in Newfoundland and Labrador with a portion of the proceeds from our community guide. The Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national support service which offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led text-based support to young people - in both English and French. Kids Help Phone assists young people through challenges or experiences they might face; including abuse and mistreatment. We hope that you find value in the information contained within this community guide and use it as a safety resource to discuss with your loved ones. On behalf of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Executive Board and its membership, thank you again for your support! Sincerely, Mike Summers President RNC Association “Supporting our Community…Strengthening our Commitment” PRESIDENT’S m e s s a g e

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3 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association 30th Anniversary Community Guide Child Abuse Awareness Child Abuse Awareness RNCA News & Photo Album What is child abuse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Physical abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Child discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Sexual abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Emotional abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Neglect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 When a parent abducts their child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Violence based on so-called honour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Underage and forced marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Signs of abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 How do I report abuse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Who can help? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Effects of child abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Family Violence Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Kids Help Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Wants versus needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Abuse in the home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 How to identify a safe adult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 10 places to go if you don’t feel safe at home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Violence Prevention Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Where To Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Reporting Child and Youth Abuse and Neglect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 How to Help a Child Experiencing Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 About 211 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 RNCA supports Kids Help Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Donations to the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Detective Sgt. Thomas Fraize Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Blast From The Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 RNCA Messages Message from the RNCA President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 RNCA Executive Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Publisher’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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5 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association EXECUTIVE BOARD Sergeant Mike Summers President Constable Nicholas Cashin 1st Vice President Constable Jordan McEntegart 2nd Vice President Sergeant Scott Harris Treasurer Constable Robyn Knight Secretary Constable Tammy Madden Director, CID Constable Pat McDonald Director, Support Services Sergeant Russ Moores Director, NCOs Constable Danny Abbass Director, Corner Brook Constable Richard Tilley Director, Labrador Constable Geoff Hall Director, Platoon A Constable Chris Smith Director, Platoon C Constable Craig Edmunds Director, Platoon B Constable Evan Farrell Director, Platoon D Supporting our Community…Strengthening our Commitment

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7 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association On behalf of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every contributor to our Annual Telephone Appeal, allowing this unique publication to be distributed to schools, libraries and public facilities and also available online at www.rnca.ca, making it easily accessible to everyone. The RNCA publishes an Annual Community Guide to educate the public on important community concerns. This 30th Anniversary Community Guide targets ChildAbuse Awareness to help educate and promote the public’s role in identifying and reporting this terrible crime. This publication is made possible as a result of financial contributions from residents and business representatives throughout the province. With their generous support for the activities of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association, the RNCA is also able to give back to their communities through donations to various local charities and programs for youth, such as their recent generous donation to KIDS HELP PHONE to help young people who are struggling to cope. We welcome comments or suggestions regarding these publications and always look forward to speaking with you each year during our Annual Telephone Appeal. Respectfully, Mark T. Fenety President Fenety Marketing Services (Atlantic) Ltd. PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE “Providing quality, professional marketing and fundraising services on behalf of high-profile, non-profit organizations.” WWW.FENETY.COM

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9 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association What is child abuse? Jack wrapped his fingers tighter around his granddaughter’s small hand as they entered the old medical centre. It took courage to make this appointment, but Jack knew they needed the social worker’s help. Little Ella and her brother had come to stay with her grandparents for a few weeks over the summer. They had all looked forward to the special visit, thinking it would be great for the kids to have lots of room to run and play. But the two children seemed distant and mostly played their computer games. Ella’s frequent nightmares quickly became a concern. Every loud noise seemed to make the little girl jump. Jack had set about earning Ella’s trust, bit by bit.When the vacation had come to an end, she had hid in the closet and refused to leave.Through Ella’s tears, Jack had learned that her parents were always fighting. Her father often pushed her mother and she in turn often threw things at him.There was lots of yelling. Ella thought it was all her fault and that if she went back something bad would happen. Jack’s heart ached at the thought of his daughter and his grandchildren enduring this kind of life. He didn’t like the idea of interfering, but he knew the children’s safety and well-being had to come first. He hoped it wasn’t too late for some counselling to help. Maybe his daughter and her husband could still turn things around and make a better home for the kids. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. It also includes neglect, and any violence that children see or hear in their families.The person who abuses the child can be: • a parent; • a brother or sister; • another relative; • a caregiver; • a guardian; • a teacher; or • another professional or volunteer who works with children (for example, a doctor or coach). Abuse may take place in a child’s home, or it may happen in other places, like other people’s homes, schools, community centres or places of worship. Sometimes the child’s parents lived abuse as a child, such as in the residential schools many Indigenous peoples were forced to attend. Abuse that someone lived as a child, whether it happened in their home or outside of it, may change the way they parent their own children as abuse is often a learned behaviour. This booklet deals with child abuse in the family. In Canada, there are federal, provincial and territorial laws to protect children from abuse. Some types of abuse are crimes and are listed in the Criminal Code, which is a federal law. Federal laws are laws that apply across Canada. Even if the abuse is not a crime under the Criminal Code, provincial and territorial laws could be used to stop the abuse. Child abuse can cause long-term health problems. Every child deserves protection from abuse.

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11 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Physical abuse Rick sat alone in the hospital coffee shop. He needed some time alone to calm his nerves. He had just made the call to Child Protection Services. He couldn’t believe he had taken this step. But his son Jason was waiting for an X-ray upstairs in the children’s section of the hospital to see if his arm was broken.And the doctor was clearly worried about how Jason had gotten his injuries. She had asked a lot of questions about the bruises on Jason’s wrists and face. Jason wouldn’t say much about what had happened at his mother’s place, except that his stepfather had locked him in his room for a long time.The boy’s new stepfather didn’t seem to like the boy very much. Rick felt his stomach clench. He knew that there was a lot at stake here. Rick’s ex-wife, Cathy, had mostly ignored her son Jason the first few years after the divorce.When she had finally started to take Jason for the weekends after she re-married, it had seemed like a new start for all of them. However, before long, Jason had stopped wanting to go over to his mother’s. Rick had thought it was just part of adjusting to the new family situation. He had felt sure that Cathy would never let any harm come to their son. Now that Rick knew that Cathy’s husband was abusing Jason, he knew he needed to protect his son. Also, there were other children living in that home.They must have witnessed the violence – they must be afraid that this could happen to them too. Everyone deserves a chance to get some help. What does it look like? Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against a child. It can cause physical pain, injury, or injury that may last a lifetime.This type of abuse includes: • pushing or shoving; • hitting, slapping or kicking; • strangling or choking; • pinching or punching; • biting; • burning; • throwing an object at a child; and • excessive or violent shaking. All of these acts are crimes in Canada. What can I do? Every province and territory has a law that says that any person who believes a child is being abused must report it. You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. For more information about the child protection laws, see Child Protection Services under “Who can help?” on page 39. If you know a child who is being physically abused, call your local police. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. If you have harmed your child, or think you might harm your child, get help. Here are some things you can do: • Call your local child protection services. • Talk to a social worker, counselor or teacher. • Call your local help line. • Call the police. • In an emergency, call 9-1-1. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada.

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13 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Child discipline What does it look like? All children need their parents to teach them how to behave. Children need time to learn what they should and should not do.They learn to behave by: • watching their parents and other people; • getting clear instructions; and • being praised and encouraged for their efforts. The right kind of discipline teaches children responsibility, self-control, and right from wrong. It raises the child’s self-esteem, encourages the child to do better and strengthens the parent-child bond. Parents should never discipline children until the children are old enough to understand it. Why doesn’t spanking work? Experts say that spanking is not an effective form of discipline. Spanking can make children angry and resentful. It can cause them to lose trust in their parents. It teaches children that hitting others is okay. In the long run, spanking can make children’s behaviour worse. (continued) Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Lori quietly wept over the sink, just staring at the afternoon dishes. Her hands were still shaking. She couldn’t believe how close she had just come to total disaster. She had only asked Kaila to pick up her toys! But when Kaila had thrown them all down the stairs, Lori had spun out of control. She was just so tired of the toddler’s tantrums. Lori knows Kaila is still young, but why can’t she learn to pick up things like her friends already do? It was seeing the cell phone in pieces among the broken toys that had made her start yelling.Where were they going to get the money to replace that? In an instant, she had slapped Kaila really hard. And the next thing she knew, Kaila had lost her balance at the top of the stairs.What was she thinking when she did that? Was she crazy? If Lori hadn’t grabbed her, Kaila would have fallen all the way down, just like her dolls. Lori began to sob. She loved Kaila, but everything seemed so hard these days with Roy out of work. She always feels like she’s failing, especially when it comes to Kaila. She’s got to stop doing things like this before something really bad happens. Kaila could have been seriously hurt! And she supposed that hitting Kaila like that could be considered an assault. Maybe she could check the Internet to find a parenting class or support group: there must be others like her going through this.

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15 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association (continued) Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. (continued) The law on assault in the Criminal Code The Criminal Code outlines most crimes in Canada. It says that assaulting someone or threatening to assault someone is a crime.Touching someone without their consent can be an assault, even if it doesn’t harm them. Under the law, assault can include: • slapping; • punching; • pinching; • kicking; • confining; • restraining; or • unwanted touching. However, not every action where one person hits another person is assault. And not every threat of contact is assault. People may give their consent to contact. For example, hockey players may body check each other without it being a crime. This is because they have given their consent to physical contact within the rules of the sport. Also, section 43 of the Criminal Code can give parents and caregivers a defence to a charge of assault in limited cases if they use reasonable force. Section 43 of the Criminal Code says that parents and caregivers who use reasonable force to correct a child’s behaviour may not be found guilty of assault. But section 43 is not a defence for every use of force against a child. Parents or caregivers may only use reasonable force to correct or protect the child. For example, a parent may use reasonable force to put a child in their room for a time out or to pull a child away from traffic. A person who has physically or sexually abused a child cannot use section 43 as a defence. What does work? What does work is to build your child’s confidence and problem-solving skills. It is important to figure out the reasons for your child’s behaviour.When you understand the reason for your child’s behaviour, it may be easier to handle the situation without losing your temper. Ways to help your child behave well: • Create a loving and respectful home. • Be a good role model. • Focus on prevention. • Decide what is truly important and have a few clear and consistent rules. • Tell your child what you expect. • Praise your child’s efforts, even if they’re not perfect. • Respect your child’s need to express their emotions. • Listen to your child’s thoughts, ideas and concerns. •Watch your child closely so you can redirect behaviour before it gets worse. • Make sure that you both get enough sleep. • Make sure that you both eat nutritious food regularly and exercise. • Last but not least, try to have fun with your child.

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17 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association The Supreme Court of Canada decision In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada looked at section 43.The Court decided that a parent or guardian who uses force to correct a child can only use it in the following ways: • The person may only use force to correct a child if it will help the child learn.The person can never use force in anger. • The child must be between two-years old and twelve-years old. (This means that section 43 is not a defence if the child is younger than two or older than twelve). • The person can only use reasonable force and its impact can only be “transitory and trifling.” (This means that the force causes little or no pain, and does not leave marks on the child). • The person must not use an object, such as a ruler or belt, to apply the force. • The person must not hit or slap the child’s face or head. • The seriousness of what happened or what the child did is not relevant to how much force is used in discipline. It may be acceptable for a person to use reasonable force to restrain a child in some circumstances. For example, you may need to hold your child down to put them in a car seat. It is not considered reasonable for you to hit a child in anger or to get back at the child for something the child did. It is against the law to hit a child in anger. The use of force when managing children’s behaviour There are times when you may have to use force to control a child and keep the child, or other children, safe. For example, you may need to touch or restrain a child to keep the child from running across the street. Or you may need to carry a screaming three-year old out of a store. Without section 43, parents and caregivers could face criminal charges and might have to go to court to defend their actions whenever they use force to respond to a child’s behaviour. If you are angry, however, find some way to cool down before you manage your child’s behaviour. (continued) (continued) Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada.

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19 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Provincial and territorial child protection laws Even if the way you discipline your child is not a crime, it could still be abuse.The provinces and territories also have laws to protect children from abuse. These laws allow the provincial or territorial government to step in when a child needs to be protected from abuse or neglect. What can I do? Every province and territory has a law that says any person who believes a child is being abused must report it. You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. Depending on where you live, this could be your local child protection office or the police. If you have harmed your child, or think you might harm your child, get help. Here are some places you can go for help: • your family doctor or public health nurse; • family resource centres; • local child protection services; • local public health department; • parenting programs; • parenting resources, like booklets; or • organizations that help immigrants and newcomers. See page 39 for “Who can help?” (continued) Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Need help but don’t know where to start? 211 can help. It’s free and confidential. CALL: 211

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21 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association What does it look like? All sexual contact with anyone without consent is a crime called sexual assault. This includes sexual touching.The Criminal Code contains many offences that protect children from sexual abuse, which happens when a person takes advantage of a child for sexual purposes. It does not always involve physical contact with a child. For example, it could happen when an adult invites a child to touch herself or himself sexually or attempts to lure a child over the Internet for sexual purposes. Sexual contact between an adult and a child under 16 is a crime. In Canada, the general age of consent to sexual activity is 16 years, but there are some exceptions if the other person is close in age to the child. The age of consent is 18 years in some circumstances, for example, where the sexual activity takes place in a relationship of trust, dependency or authority or where the relationship is exploitative of the child.A person of authority or trust could be a parent, step-parent, grandparent, older sibling, teacher or coach. What can I do? If you know a child who is being sexually abused, report it to the police immediately. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. Teach your children about personal safety and how they can stay safe. For more information, please see “10 places to go if you don’t feel safe at home” at the back of this book. Every province and territory has a law that says that any person who believes a child is being abused must report it.You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. If you have questions about how to recognize child sexual abuse, here are some things you can do: • Call your local child protection services. • Talk to a nurse, social worker, doctor or teacher. • Call the police. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Kate watched the kids climb the play structure in the late autumn sunshine. It was good to see Michael laughing again and joining in the games. Her heart went out to him.The last year had been so difficult.When he had first come to her pre-school daycare, she had thought of Michael as shy and quiet. However, after a while, she had started to wonder if something was going on. Little remarks he had made suggested he knew more about sex than most kids his age.When some of the children had told her that Michael was touching their private parts, she had started to worry. But when Michael also complained that it hurt to go to the bathroom, she had quickly put two and two together. Kate had known right away that she had a duty to report the situation, even if she was worried about where it might all lead.What would it mean for Michael? And for his family? Even for her business? In the end, the authorities had discovered Michael’s uncle had sexually abused both Michael and his older brother. The investigation was hard for the family and for everyone involved. But the children were safe now and receiving counselling. She feels a lot of hope for Michael. She believes that he will learn to feel good about himself again and build a new sense of trust. Sexual abuse

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23 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Nora knew she had to speak to her sister, Irene, again. She could see that Irene’s son Patrick was always on edge. His father, Sean, showed little interest in Patrick, except to criticize him.When it came to Patrick, the words “stupid” and “weakling” slid easily off Sean’s tongue. Nothing Patrick could do would meet his father’s standards. His school grades weren’t high enough, his hockey game was poor, and his friends were lazy. On the other hand, their older son, Ryan, received nothing but praise. Nora wondered why her sister went along with this. Maybe Irene was too busy trying to meet her husband’s expectations herself to see what was going on with her son. Patrick was either invisible or a problem. No wonder he was still wetting the bed! Nora had spoken to Irene, but her sister had quickly changed the subject.“It’s not that serious,” she had said.“Patrick needs to be tougher.” Nora wondered how she could find the right words to break through to Irene. She had picked up some pamphlets about child abuse at the community centre. Perhaps she could use them to start a conversation about their own father’s harsh behaviour. Maybe if Irene could remember the pain of that old abuse, she could find the strength to get some help for herself and for Patrick Emotional abuse What does it look like? Emotional abuse happens when a person uses words or actions to control, frighten, isolate, or take away a child’s self-respect and sense of worth. Emotional abuse is sometimes called psychological abuse. It can include: • putting a child down or humiliating a child; • constantly criticizing a child; • constantly yelling at a child; • threatening to harm a child or others; • keeping a child from seeing their family or friends without good reason; or • threatening to move a child out of their home. Some forms of emotional abuse are crimes in Canada, including: • threatening to harm a child; • threatening to harm another person; • threatening to destroy the child’s personal property; • threatening to hurt the child’s pet; • harassing the child on the telephone; • deliberately intimidating a child; and • advising a child to commit suicide. Other forms of emotional abuse are not crimes, but they are still very serious. The provinces and territories also have laws that protect children from emotional abuse.These laws protect children even if the type of abuse is not a crime. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. (continued)

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25 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Children who see or hear family violence Children can also suffer emotional abuse from seeing or hearing violence between other family members. Even if they don’t see or hear the violence, they can be affected by seeing the results of the violence. It can be very hard for children to see or hear family violence even if they are not being physically hurt themselves.They will probably feel scared and insecure. What can I do? Every province and territory has a law that says that any person who believes a child is being abused must report it.You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. If you believe that a child you know is being emotionally abused, you can: • Call your local child protection services. • Talk to a public health nurse, doctor, social worker or teacher. • Call your local help line. (continued) Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Need help but don’t know where to start? 211 can help. It’s free and confidential. CALL: 211 You do not have to give your name or personal details to ask for information.

26 www.rnca.ca SMS Equipment Inc. 12 Second Ave., Wabush, NL A0R 1B0 (709) 282-3777 Head Office: P.O. Box 130, L’Anse au Loup, NL A0K 3L0 Phone:709-927-5816 Fax:709-927-5555 www.labshrimp.com Fish Processing Plants at Cartwright, L’Anse au Loup, Mary’s Harbour, Pinsent’s Arm and Charlottetown Fresh Atlantic Products from the People’s Seafood Company 95 Ville Moris Drive, Marystown Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital 178-200 West Street, St. Anthony, NL A0K 4S0 T: 709-454-0370 F: 709-454-3171 380 Hamilton River Road P.O. Box 58, Station C Goose Bay, NL A0P 1C0, Canada Tel: (709) 896-3351 Fax: (709) 896-3927 reservations@labradorinn.com Toll Free 1-800-563-2763 www.labradorinn.nf.ca Todd White & Associates 98 Broadway, Corner Brook, NL A2H 4C8 (709) 639-7774 Todd.white@nl.rogers.com TRITON GARAGE LTD 56 Main St., Triton NL A0J 1V0 (709) 263-2219

27 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Neglect What does it look like? Neglect happens when a parent or guardian fails to meet a child’s basic needs. Sometimes parents neglect their children on purpose. Sometimes parents don’t mean to neglect their children, but they have so many problems themselves that they can’t look after their children properly. Neglect can include: • not giving a child proper food or warm clothing; • not providing a child with a safe and warm place to live; • not making sure a child washes regularly; • not providing enough health care or medicine; • not paying any attention to a child’s emotional needs; • not preventing physical harm; and • not making sure a child is supervised properly. Sometimes, neglect can hurt just as much as physical abuse. Some forms of neglect are crimes in Canada. For example, failing to provide the necessaries of life and child abandonment are crimes.The provinces and territories also have laws to protect children from neglect. These laws protect children even if the type of abuse is not a crime. What can I do? Every province and territory has a law that says that any person who believes a child is being abused must report it. You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. If you believe that a child you know is being neglected you can: • Call your local child protection services. • Call the police. • Talk to a public health nurse, doctor, social worker or teacher. • Call your local help line. • In an emergency, call 9-1-1. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Nikhita shivered as she removed her winter coat and wrapped it around little Olivia. She turned the car heater to high as she helped the seven year-old into her car and called 9-1-1 on her cell phone. Nikhita had stayed into the evening at the school to mark exams. It had been snowing for hours when she came out, so she was shocked to find her young student huddled beside her car in the parking lot.The girl’s hair and sweater were glistening with snow. Her voice was barely a whisper when she told Nikhita that no one was at home and her house was locked. No, she didn’t know where her parents were. Olivia had only been at the school for a month, but Nikhita had already expressed her concern about the girl to the principal. She looked tired all the time and rarely brought a lunch to school. Now that it was winter, it was clear that she didn’t have a winter coat or winter boots.The other kids had sensed Olivia was unprotected and taken to teasing her. Nikhita knew the principal had tried calling the girl’s parents, but hadn’t got through. Clearly, the time had come for stronger measures. It would be up to the police to figure out what was going on at home.This kind of neglect was too much. Olivia and her family needed help. Nikhita put her arm around the little girl to keep them both warm as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

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29 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Most abducted children are taken by someone the child knows.The person who takes them is most often a parent. Parental child abduction happens when one parent takes a child without either the legal right or the permission of the other parent. Parental child abduction is a crime in Canada. An exception may apply when a parent takes the child to protect them from immediate harm. What to do if you are afraid the other parent may abduct your child: • Contact a lawyer. • Contact your local police. • Keep records of all important information about your child and store it in a safe place. • Keep a copy of your parenting or custody order or agreement with you. • Ask your local passport office to add your child’s name to the Passport Control List. If your children are citizens of another country, contact that embassy or consulate to ask them to refuse passports for your children. • Talk to your child about using the phone and explain how your parenting or custody order or agreement works if you are separated or divorced. • If it is safe to do so, try to maintain good relations with the other parent and any extended family. • Keep photos, recordings or other proof of the family violence. If your child is abducted: • Contact your local police immediately. • If you are out of the country, make sure to report the disappearance to the federal government’s Consular Services at 613-996-8885.You may call collect, where available. • If you are inside Canada and you think your child is outside Canada, call the federal government’s Consular Services at 1-800-387-3124 (TTY 613-944-1310 or 1-800-394-3472) or go to https://travel.gc.ca/. • Contact a child search organization in your province or territory and register your child as missing. What can I do? For more information: • Visit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) site at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca and search for “Our Missing Children.” • Visit the Global Affairs Canada website at https://travel.gc.ca, and look under “Publications” for a booklet called “International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left Behind Parents” Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. When a parent abducts their child

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31 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Violence based on “honour” happens when family members use violence to protect family honour.The victim is usually female.The victim has behaved in ways that the family believes will bring shame or dishonour. For example, the family might not approve of: • dating or talking to boys; • having sexual relationships outside of marriage; • wearing what they believe is the wrong clothing; or • refusing a forced marriage. The family members believe that using violence will bring back the family’s reputation.The types of violence the family uses can include: • beatings; • forced confinement; • threats; • counselling suicide; and • killing. These actions are crimes. If you know a child who is afraid for their safety because of family honour, contact the police. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Violence based on so-called honour Need help but don’t know where to start? 211 can help. It’s free and confidential. CALL: 211

32 www.rnca.ca NAIN SAFE HOUSE Nicole Dicker, Executive Director P.O. Box 447, Nain, NL A0P 1L0 Crisis Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .709-922-1229 Toll Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-866-922-1230 Office Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .709-922-1230 Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .709-922-1424 Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .nainsafehouse@nf.aibn.com PO Box 1073, Torbay, NL A1K 1K7 (709) 437-1470 709.489.2277 2C Mill Road, GF-W www.cohenlawnl.ca WEST COAST EXCAVATING CO LTD PO Box 266, Corner Brook, NL A2H 6C9 (709) 639-9423

33 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Marriage in Canada Canadian requirements for a valid marriage include that: • Both people getting married must give their free and enlightened consent to the marriage. • Both must be at least 16 years old. • Neither of them can be married to anyone else. Forced marriage A forced marriage occurs when a person does not want to marry, but is made to marry by someone else. It is not the same as an arranged marriage, where both people consent to the marriage. Family members might believe that the marriage is the right thing for the person and for the family. Sometimes they will even use physical violence, threats of violence, abduction, forced confinement or emotional abuse to force someone to marry. But forcing someone to marry against their will is a crime in Canada. It is also a crime to take a person under 18 years of age out of Canada to force them to marry in another country. Some tactics used to force a person to marry are also crimes - for example, threats and violence. Underage and forced marriage If you or someone you know is being forced to marry, tell someone you trust or contact the police or a social worker.You may want to ask them about applying for a peace bond to prevent the marriage from taking place. You can also call the police if you suspect that you or someone you know will be taken out of Canada and forced to marry in another country.You can find more information on steps you can take to protect yourself from being forced into marriage on Global Affairs Canada’s forced marriage webpage or by calling 1-800-387-3124.That webpage also has a directory of services that may include places to get help in your province or territory. Underage marriage Canadian law requires anyone getting married to be 16 years old or over. This minimum age also applies to anyone who is ordinarily resident in Canada where the marriage takes place outside Canada, in person or by telephone or proxy. It is a crime in Canada to celebrate, aid or participate in the marriage of a child who is under 16 years of age, even if the child agrees to be married. It is also a crime to take a child under 16 who (continued)

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35 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association ordinarily lives in Canada, to another country to be married. If you know a child under 16 who will be married in Canada or taken to another country to be married, call the police or a social worker. Polygamy Canadian law permits two people to marry each other. It is a crime in Canada to marry a person while you or they are married to someone else. If you are married to one person, you cannot marry another person until you take legal steps to end your marriage through divorce or are widowed. Practising polygamy, which means knowing that you are involved in a form of marriage that involves more than two persons at the same time, including a religious marriage, is a crime in Canada. (continued) Need help but don’t know where to start? 211 can help. It’s free and confidential. Call 211 | 1-855-276-9072 Newfoundland & Labrador Call 211

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37 www.rnca.ca Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Signs of abuse Do you think that a child you know is being abused? Some signs to watch for include: • unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, scars, sprains or broken bones; • frequent “accidents” with questionable explanations; • major changes in behaviour; • exposure to family violence; • running away from home and not wanting to return; • repeatedly sick; • sudden weight loss or weight gain; • increased social problems at school; and • unusual knowledge of sexual behaviour for the child’s age. These things can have other causes, but they may be signs of child abuse. If you have reason to believe that a child is being abused, you have a duty to report it. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. How do I report abuse? Every province and territory has a law that says any person who believes a child is being abused must report it. You can call the police or your local child protection office.We all have a role to play in stopping child abuse.We need to be alert to the signs of abuse. Friends, family and professionals all need to do their part. Call the police You can call the police if you believe a child is being abused.The police will come and help. Many police officers are trained to deal with abuse in families or relationships. Some have special training to deal with child abuse. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency. The police may arrest the person who abused the child if they believe that person has broken the law. If this happens, the abuser may stay in jail for a few hours before a bail hearing. It’s possible they may stay longer, if the judge decides that would be better. If you are afraid for your safety or a child’s safety, ask the police or victim services to let you know before the person is let go. Be sure the police know how to contact you. For more information on what a crime victim needs to know about the criminal justice system, visit the Government of Canada’s website at http://www.victimsmatter.gc.ca. Contact your local child protection office You can call your local child protection office if you believe a child is being abused.You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong.

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