Our members include professionals from various fields. We are united by a shared purpose: to protect children from emotional and psychological abuse and ensure they grow up in safe, nurturing environments.
We believe that every form of child abuse must be acknowledged and addressed – not only physical or sexual abuse, but also emotional and psychological harm.
It’s a common misconception that children are the property of their parents. In reality, parents don’t own their children – they are entrusted with the responsibility to raise them in a healthy, supportive environment that fosters confidence, empathy, and joy.
Emotional and psychological abuse is often invisible, but its impact can be just as severe – than physical or sexual harm.
Research shows that children often heal faster from physical wounds than from long-term emotional trauma.
Our goal is to change the way society and institutions respond to emotional abuse, starting with awareness, education, and advocacy.
Despite growing awareness, Slovakia lacks the infrastructure, expertise, and legal support to properly recognize and respond to emotional, and psychological child abuse.
In particular, our justice system often fails children caught in custody disputes where one or both parents use emotional manipulation over extended periods. Courts may overlook the psychological harm being done, focusing only on physical needs or outdated notions of parenting.
We aim to change this narrative, protect vulnerable children, and push for systemic reform.
EPAO operates on three key levels to bring lasting change:
Educating society to undertstand and recognizee emotional and psychological abuse.
Offering resources for intervention and support.
Empowering people to take action.
Training professionals such as psychologists, teachers, lawyers, social workers, and judges.
Promoting best practices in identifying and responding to emotional abuse.
Improving inter-professional communication and collaboration.
Lobbying for updated laws and procedures that reflect the seriousness of emotional and psychological abuse.
Focusing on protecting children in custody battles.
Pushing for judicial reforms and better enforcement of child welfare standards.
