'Do Not Even Hit with Flowers'... Suwon City Conducts Inspections of Families at Risk of Child Abuse

The city of Suwon in Gyeonggi Province will visit and inspect high-risk child abuse households in cooperation with the police and child protection agencies until the end of this year.

To this end, Suwon formed a joint inspection team consisting of the Suwon Child Protection Team, Suwon Southern, Central, and Western Police Stations, and representatives from the Suwon Child Protection Agency.

The main inspection targets are ▲households with a history of abuse two or more times or repeated reports and investigations ▲households identified with issues during case management such as refusal (or non-cooperation) of case management or home visits ▲children with unreported births or long-term unexcused absences ▲households within three years of returning to the original family after a change in the protection system where re-abuse is a concern.

Suwon City Hall

Home visits and direct face-to-face meetings are the principle to check the child’s physical and psychological condition and living environment, and to inspect for re-abuse (physical and emotional abuse, neglect). Statements are taken separately from the abuser and the child.

If there is a risk of re-abuse and it is judged that the child needs protection (separation), emergency measures, urgent temporary measures, immediate separation, and investigation requests will be taken. Additionally, the child will be referred to protective facilities or medical institutions, and follow-up support such as case management will be linked.

A Suwon city official stated, "If a child at high risk of abuse is found, we will collaborate with the police and child protection agencies to promptly take protective measures and proactively respond to protect the child."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.