Social Dimensions of the Issue of Child Abuse

A Social Study of Libyan Society

Abstract

This paper seeks to define the dimensions of the issue of encroachment on the rights of children and minors in Libyan society, exploring its magnitude and studying the legal, punitive, and preventive measures in place to mitigate its prevalence. Emphasis is placed on the social factor and its role in either exacerbating or alleviating this phenomenon. The study employs a content analysis methodology for a diverse set of laws and reports addressing child-related matters. The objective is to identify key punitive and non-punitive measures within these legal frameworks concerning child abuse and harm, evaluate their efficacy, and discern any inherent shortcomings. Notable measures examined include the Penal Code of 1992 and its amendments, the Juvenile Affairs Law of 1953, and the Child Protection Law of 1997. Additionally, the study reviews the third and fourth reports submitted by Libya on child rights to the Human Rights Committee in April 2009, along with the crime report covering the period from 1999 to 2007.