아동학대의 실태 및 법적 한계와 개선방안

The Status of Child Maltreatment & Legal Limitations with Ways of Reform

&nbsp;&nbsp;This study was done to share with the professionals who majored in law or are interested in family matters the current status of child maltreatment occurred in Korean society and the limitation of legal aspects that the child protective service workers meet in the field regarding investigation, separation of child victims from their parents, compulsory service order toward the parents, and the limit or termination of parental rights.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;The status of child maltreatment(child abuse &amp; neglect) for five years; from Oct. 2000 thru September 2005 was analyzed from the statistical data reported and accrued in the national data system which was developed by the National Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The statistical data are on the annual report of child maltreatment thru child protection hotline(dialing 1391) installed in 38 local centers for the prevention of child abuse, the source of reports, the results of initial intervention, the types of child maltreatment, the age of child victims, child victims in relation to the perpetrators, child fatality, reoccurrence of child maltreatment, the final results of placement and treatment for children, and the results of remedial action toward perpetrators.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;As both of the current Child Welfare Act and Domestic Violence Prevention Acts(punishment act for the perpetrators and protection act for the victims) have legal limitations for the best interest of children to be realized, the author suggested to create an act for child victim with which the intervention of child maltreatment be more effectively done by the family or children’s court order.