In the Past 3 Years, 284 Disability Abuse Reports in Sejong...Increase in Cases Involving Parents and Acquaintances

Source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The number of reported cases of abuse against persons with disabilities in Sejong over the past three years has been tallied at 284. Among the reported cases, abuse by parents and acquaintances accounted for a high proportion. The abuse mainly occurred within the home.

Sejong City announced on the 7th that it has published the "Sejong City Disability Abuse Status Report," which contains these analysis results.

The report is an analysis of the status of abuse against persons with disabilities occurring in the local community, conducted in cooperation with the Sejong City Disability Rights Advocacy Agency.

According to the report, from January 2018 to September of last year, 143 cases of abuse against persons with disabilities were reported, and 141 general cases were recorded.

Among the abuse cases, based on the relationship between the abuser and the disabled victim, cases involving others accounted for 67 cases (46.9%), the highest proportion, while abuse by family members and relatives accounted for 62 cases (43.4%).

Based on this, the city and the Sejong City Disability Rights Advocacy Agency analyzed that abuse frequency is higher when the victim and the perpetrator have a close relationship.

The location of abuse was most frequently the residence of the disabled victim with 72 cases (50.3%), followed by other locations such as streets and third parties' homes with 19 cases (13.3%), and workplaces with 14 cases (9.8%).

Regarding abuse victims by primary disability type, intellectual disabilities accounted for 64.6% of the total, followed by autism and developmental disabilities.

In terms of gender distribution of the victims, females numbered 82 (57.3%), more than males at 61 (42.7%). The perpetrators were predominantly male at 107 (74.8%), females at 33 (23.1%), and 3 perpetrators (2.1%) whose gender was unidentified.

Regarding the age distribution of the disabled victims, those in their 50s accounted for 23.1%, those in their 30s 21.7%, those aged 19 and under 19.6%, and those in their 20s 16.1%, in that order.

Based on the report, the city plans to strengthen awareness improvement education and customized publicity to prevent abuse against persons with disabilities.

Additionally, when it is necessary to separate and protect the victim and the perpetrator, the city plans to open a shelter for disabled victims so they can be connected to facilities and admitted.

Hwang Gwang-ae, head of the Elderly and Disabled Division of the city, said, "We will actively strive to protect the rights of persons with disabilities by having the Disability Rights Advocacy Agency additionally perform counseling and support work related to discrimination and human rights violations against persons with disabilities, and by preparing without delay the opening of a shelter for disabled victims."

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