Addressing the Crisis of Domestic and Child Violence: A Look at Recent Incidents, Global Trends, and Systemic Challenges

The recent case of child abuse in Aghdam, Azerbaijan, has once again brought the critical issue of domestic violence, particularly against children, into sharp focus. In a distressing development, a child, born in 2023, who had previously been removed from their parents due to violent behaviour and placed in a children's home, was returned to the mother by a court decision on 11 June 2025. Tragically, by 27 August 2025, this child, along with another young child (born 2024), was hospitalised with severe trauma, with one arriving in a comatose state.

The hospital reported that one of the infants was diagnosed with multiple blunt force traumas, closed craniocerebral trauma, acute subdural hematoma, and numerous bruises on the body, requiring transfer to the Republican Neurosurgery Hospital for specialised care. The other child is currently under medical observation and will be handed over to relevant authorities. The parents are suspected of inflicting the injuries, and the father, Sadiq Rahimov, has been detained for investigation by police.

The State Committee for Family, Women and Child Issues has taken the matter under control, with their Aghdam Child and Family Support Centre monitoring the children's health. Preliminary findings suggest that the parents have severely harmed the children's physical and psychological health and moral development, constituting a gross violation of Article 60 of the Family Code. This situation could lead to the parents being held accountable and deprived of their parental rights under Article 64 of the Family Code.

Global and Local Scale of Child Violence

Child abuse, which can manifest as physical, sexual, or psychological ill-treatment and neglect, is a pervasive global issue. Experts define child abuse as physical confinement, sexual assault, psychological pressure, and neglect, including employing children, sexually exploiting them, harming them, or forcing them into early marriage. According to a 2020 World Health Organisation report, approximately 1 billion children aged 2-17 experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence in 2019. Globally, an estimated 1.7 billion children are subjected to violence annually. Shockingly, one in ten young girls worldwide is forced into sexual activity, with 15 million girls aged 15-19 reportedly coerced into sexual relations. Furthermore, 60% of children globally are subjected to physical punishment by their parents. Children account for 28% of victims in detected human trafficking activities. Annually, 41,000 children under 15 die due to domestic murder. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an alarming threefold increase in online child abuse cases. A quarter of adults report experiencing violence in childhood, with one in five women and one in thirteen men describing abuse in their childhood.

While the United Kingdom is considered the safest country for children, with an 83.9% safety rating in one study, even there, 19,847 children received help for sexual exploitation in March 2020. In 2016-17, 43,522 children were sexually exploited, and an investigation in 2020 revealed that 8.5 million adults aged 18-74 admitted to being sexually exploited before the age of 16. The UK has developed programs and technological solutions to prevent child abuse, though the lack of official data sharing is a significant drawback. Other countries also face significant challenges:

• Germany (5th safest with 73.1%) reported 40 child abuse cases daily in 2018, according to police reports. Germany also develops programs and offers technological capabilities against child violence, but official data exchange is problematic.

• Turkey (18th safest with 56.7%) saw a threefold increase in child abuse cases over a decade, with 250,000 children affected, based on 2016 data. In 2019, 15.2% of 206,498 child crime victims experienced sexual violence. While media, public, and civil society provide significant support against child abuse in Turkey, shortcomings include gaps in the legal system, lack of national awareness, and insufficient sharing of official data.

• Russia (38th safest with 47.2%) lacks reliable data on sexual exploitation, and while legal structures are improving, information collection, national education, and support programs are deficient.

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (least safe with 26.4%) faces severe gender-based discrimination, with nearly one in two children forced into early marriage, and 27% of girls aged 15-19 reportedly pregnant. Only 1% of girls aged 15-19 who are forced into sexual relations receive professional help.

Despite varying welfare levels, clear data on child abuse remains elusive even in the most developed nations, with non-governmental organisations often leading prevention efforts. No form of violence against children is justifiable, and all forms of violence are preventable.

Psychological and Sociological Drivers of Domestic Violence

Psychiatrist Azer Bagirov identifies several sociological and psychological factors contributing to domestic violence:

• Sociological causes: Low education levels, economic hardships, and ingrained mental customs and beliefs.

• Psychological causes: Antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders, paranoid disorder with jealousy delusions and schizophrenia, and the use of alcohol and narcotics.

• Individuals prone to violence often share common traits, including:

• Jealousy.

• A desire to control their partner.

• Prioritising their own needs over others'.

• Low self-confidence, leading to quick offence.

• A tendency to blame others for their failures.

• Impulsivity, acting without thinking in moments of anger.

• An inability to acknowledge their own faults.

Narcissistic individuals may easily become angry and violent during disagreements due to their belief in their own superiority and disregard for others' boundaries. Those with antisocial character pathology may resort to violence when they believe they will not face punishment. Alcohol and drug use impair the brain's prefrontal cortex, weakening its ability to judge, analyse, and make decisions, leading to uncontrolled and violent behaviours. Bagirov notes that initial acts of violence are often overlooked, with hopes that they won't recur, but observations show that violence tends to escalate and become habitual. Unresolved domestic violence also leads to psychological problems in children raised in such environments.

Sociologist Rashad Asgarov highlights that family problems, such as those in second marriages, a lack of parental control, and fear, can cause children to conceal abuse, leading to severe consequences. He notes that in Azerbaijani society, sexual abuse of children, particularly by step-parents, is met with strong public condemnation, often leading to calls for extreme punishments like the death penalty, such as hanging or execution. Asgarov also points out that children, especially in rural areas, may miss compulsory education, which could make them more vulnerable to such abuses, underscoring the role of educational institutions in protecting children's rights. He states that sexual exploitation of individuals under 14 or 16 is an act of violence and sexual exploitation. According to Azerbaijan's Family Code, the age for marriage is 18, and any crime against children under this age is considered sexual exploitation, pressure, or violence.

Legal Framework and Challenges in Azerbaijan

Lawyer Rovsana Rahimli defines domestic violence as any humiliating, tormenting, threatening, or harmful psychological and physical impact by one family member on another or others, with the aim of intimidating or keeping them in fear. It is distinct from isolated conflicts as it is systematic, involving a series of repeated incidents. Historically, patriarchal structures, poverty, stress, and unequal power dynamics within families have been identified as root causes for women being disproportionately affected by domestic violence. The desire to gain power over another person is the main cause of any violence.

Azerbaijan has taken steps to address this issue, notably with the adoption of the "Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence" on 22 June 2010. Despite initial resistance from some lawmakers who cited national mentality and family values, the law categorises domestic violence as a legal infringement, regardless of its severity. The law defines domestic violence as harming an individual within a domestic context to maintain control. Those who can perpetrate domestic violence include spouses, cohabiting partners, parents, children, siblings, step-siblings, relatives living together, former spouses, and guardians. Domestic violence also has specific characteristics: if physical violence occurs, it will recur and its severity will increase; the perpetrator promises change after violence but threatens the victim if they try to end the relationship; it occurs in all strata of society. It has physical, psychological, economic, and sexual forms, which are interconnected, meaning a victim can suffer from several types simultaneously.

Victims of domestic violence have several rights, including:

• The right to demand an investigation.

• Ensuring their safety and confidentiality during the investigation.

• Access to free legal, medical, and psychological assistance funded by the state.

• The right to apply to shelters established for victims of domestic violence.

• A crucial protection mechanism is the protection order, which imposes restrictions on the perpetrator's actions against the victim. There are two types:

• Short-term protection orders: Issued by local executive authorities for up to 30 days and immediately enforceable. These prohibit the perpetrator from repeating violence, seeking out the victim, or causing any distress.

• Long-term protection orders: Issued by courts for up to 180 days, with the court required to review the application within three days. Non-compliance with a protection order can lead to administrative and criminal liability.

However, there are significant deficiencies in the implementation of the law, particularly regarding the issuance and enforcement of protection orders. Statistics from 2014-2018 reveal very low numbers of long-term and short-term protection orders issued, indicating "great inactivity" in this area. For example, in 2014, only 3 long-term orders were issued, increasing to 24 long-term and 10 short-term orders in 2017, but dropping to 3 long-term orders in 2018. Rahimli notes that law enforcement officials often show a skeptical attitude towards complainants, downplaying the seriousness of the issue as a mere family dispute, and sometimes lack knowledge of the law itself. Azerbaijan has also not ratified the Istanbul Convention, a comprehensive international treaty designed to protect women from all forms of violence, despite it being the first detailed legal document that establishes mandatory obligations for preventing and investigating violence against women and domestic violence. The ineffectiveness of local executive bodies in issuing short-term protection orders also leaves victims unprotected.

Societal Attitudes and Prevention

Psychologist Zeynab Eyyubova emphasises the need to educate children about "private zones" and bodily autonomy, teaching them that no one, including family members or teachers, should touch these areas unless medically necessary and under parental supervision. She also highlights the importance of parents knowing their children's friends and social circles, especially during adolescence when children may feel disconnected from family and seek belonging in peer groups. Parents knowing their children's social circles can reduce violence and increase awareness.

Eyyubova points out that while public perception often focuses on violence against girls, many adolescent boys also suffer abuse but fear being labelled as "not a man" if they report it. A significant barrier to addressing domestic violence is the societal tendency to conceal it due to "honour and mental values". Children often feel unable to confide in parents, fearing threats or blame, and perceive parents as not being able to act as friends. Eyyubova calls for comprehensive education in schools and within families regarding menstruation for girls, to be explained by mothers, and the changes associated with becoming a man for boys, to be explained by fathers, empowering them to protect themselves.

Ultimately, no form of violence against children is justifiable, and all forms of violence are preventable. It is the responsibility of every conscientious individual to protect innocent children, who represent the future and the enlightenment of society, in every corner of the world. Addressing this multifaceted problem requires not only robust legal frameworks but also a fundamental shift in societal attitudes, improved law enforcement practices, and proactive educational initiatives to empower both children and parents.