Mandatory reporting of childhood sexual abuse in Israel: what happens after the report?
While the professional literature deals to some degree with the difficult dilemmas faced by professionals regarding the question of reporting or not reporting child abuse as mandated by law, there is a glaring insufficiency of studies looking at the impact of reporting on the victims and their families. This paper presents six cases of suspected sexual abuse to demonstrate some of the inconsistency in responses to reports within the Israeli system. The authors recommend amendments to the Israeli mandatory reporting law so that the law is not only a societal decree of the absolute prohibition against the sexual exploitation of minors and others incapable of giving informed consent, but also a basis for consistent and skillful professional intervention.
Oz
Sheri
S
Machon Eitan Treatment Center for Sex Trauma Survivors & Their Families, HaRau Kook 13, 26361 Kiryat Motzkin, Israel. sherioz@netvision.net.il
Balshan
Dorit
D
D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence