What “We Now Understand”: Exposure to Domestic Violence as a Form of Child Abuse

Domestic violence and child abuse have long been known to co-occur, but not necessarily to be more intricately linked than that. Over the last few years, however, several jurisdictions have begun to recognise that exposure to domestic violence may in and of itself constitute a form of psychological, or emotional child abuse. This article explains why exposure to violence should be seen as a form of child abuse, highlights legal developments, and makes a case for firm(er) recognition of exposure to domestic violence as a form of child abuse in Hong Kong.