Contents
- Victims and Witnesses of Crime and Violence
Ministry of Justice
Child Victims
A key concern of parents is keeping their children safe. When children or youth are victims of crime, this can be very hard for parents as well as the young victims. Parents may not know what to do to help their child through this difficult time. Young people experience various types of crime, in various contexts. Child abuse, bullying and dating violence are terms commonly associated with crimes against children and youth, but they don't reflect the whole picture.
Children and youth may also be victims of assault, robbery, and related offences involving physical violence or threats of violence; offences related to neglect; sexual offences such as sexual interference, sexual exploitation, or sexual assault; and property offences such as theft. Young people may be victimized by adults, older children or youth, or their peers—by strangers, acquaintances, boyfriends or girlfriends, family members, adults in positions of trust or authority, or others involved in their lives. If your child is a victim of crime, help is available for you and your child.
Individual and group counselling is available to children aged 3 to 18 who have witnessed violence in the home through the Children Who Witness Abuse Counselling Program.
For information on counselling programs and other available services contact VictimLink BC 1 800 563-0808.
Suggested Reading:
- Help Starts Here – Victims of Crime
- Responding to Child Welfare Concerns, Your Role in Knowing When and What to Report – see Ministry of Children and Family Development Publications.
- Help Starts Here – If Your Child is a Victim of Crime
Publication includes a list resources and help lines for children.
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