Report on Child Abuse Case and its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Case Overview

• Subject: Elizabeth Rose Conlin, 42
• Jurisdiction: 3rd District Court, Sandy, Utah
• Victims: 11-year-old male, 8-year-old female
• Associated Party: Kalon Ray Colvin, 42

2.0 Summary of Charges

1. First-Degree Felonies: Child Torture, Aggravated Child Abuse
2. Second-Degree Felonies: Obstruction of Justice, Aggravated Child Abuse
3. Third-Degree Felonies: Witness Tampering (Two Counts)
4. Class A Misdemeanors: Tampering with Evidence, Child Abuse

3.0 Allegations of Abuse and Violence

Testimony from the victims detailed prolonged and severe abuse, which reportedly occurred over many years. The children felt safe to disclose the information only after the primary subject’s arrest for an unrelated crime. Allegations include:

• Repeated beatings with belts and wooden spoons, resulting in significant injury.
• Forced isolation, such as standing in a corner for up to eight hours.
• Excessive physical exertion as punishment, including being forced to run 300 laps at night without appropriate clothing.
• Coercion to provide false explanations for injuries and to misattribute blame for the abuse, constituting witness tampering.

4.0 Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This case is a direct violation of SDG Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The charges of obstruction of justice and witness tampering further undermine the integrity of the justice system, which is a cornerstone of this goal. The formal charges and judicial process, however, represent the essential function of strong institutions in holding perpetrators accountable and protecting vulnerable populations.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The alleged physical torture and psychological abuse represent a severe infringement on the children’s right to health and well-being, as outlined in SDG 3. The long-term consequences of such trauma can impede healthy development, affecting both physical and mental health throughout their lives.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The perpetrator’s documented criminal history, which includes domestic violence, highlights the interconnectedness of violence within families and communities. Addressing violence against children is a critical component of creating peaceful and inclusive societies, which is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality and empowering all individuals.

5.0 Institutional Support and Prevention Resources

The following resources are essential for building community resilience and supporting the objectives of SDGs 3 and 16 by providing intervention and prevention services:

• Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Offers a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) and online resources at udvc.org.
• Statewide Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
• The Family Support Center: Provides crisis nurseries, counseling, and family mentoring across 15 state locations.
• Prevent Child Abuse Utah: Delivers home visiting programs, parent education, and community training on protective factors and safety.
• The Office of Home Visiting: Connects families with trained home visitors for parental support and education on child development and home safety.
• Utah Safe Haven: Allows for the safe and anonymous relinquishment of newborns at any hospital, ensuring the child’s welfare and access to care.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on child abuse directly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on health, justice, and safety for individuals, particularly children.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The article’s core subject is violence against children, the criminal charges filed, and the justice system’s response. It highlights the failure of protective systems and the subsequent legal actions to ensure justice for the victims.
   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The severe physical and psychological abuse described has profound negative impacts on the children’s health and well-being. The article details physical injuries (“injuries to his back and butt”) and implies long-term psychological trauma from enduring “years of abuse.” The inclusion of resources offering counseling and family support further underscores the connection to mental and physical health.
   • SDG 5: Gender Equality: While the main perpetrator is female, the article touches upon broader issues of domestic violence. The perpetrator’s criminal history includes “domestic violence in the presence of children,” and one of the victims is an 8-year-old girl. This connects to the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls in the private sphere.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The entire article is a case study related to this target. The charges of “child torture and aggravated child abuse” and the detailed descriptions of physical beatings (“spanked him approximately 40 times,” “continuously hit him with a belt”) and psychological torment (“stand in the corner for ‘eight hours'”) are direct examples of the violence this target aims to end.
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The “years of abuse” endured by the children directly threaten their mental health and well-being. The article implicitly addresses the need for treatment and promotion of mental health by listing resources like “The Family Support Center” which offers “counseling” to families who are “stressed out.”
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The abuse of the 8-year-old sister is a specific instance of violence against a girl in the private sphere (her home). Furthermore, the perpetrator’s history of “domestic violence” and “protective order violations” directly relates to the forms of violence this target seeks to eliminate.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article does not explicitly mention official SDG indicators, but the information provided can be used as qualitative data for several of them.

   • Indicator 16.2.1: Proportion of children aged 1-17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month. The article provides a detailed account of both physical punishment and psychological aggression. The boy’s testimony of being hit with a “red belt” and a “wooden spoon” and being forced to “run 300 laps” or “stand in the corner for ‘eight hours'” are direct examples that align with the components of this indicator. The filing of criminal charges serves as an official record of such violence occurring.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: While not a formal UN indicator, the article implies the importance of measuring the availability and accessibility of mental health and support services for victims of child abuse. The extensive list of resources provided at the end of the article, such as the “Utah Domestic Violence Coalition,” “The Family Support Center,” and “Prevent Child Abuse Utah,” points to the infrastructure in place to promote mental health and well-being for vulnerable families, which is a key aspect of achieving Target 3.4.
   • Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner. The article’s reference to the perpetrator’s “extensive violent criminal history, including… domestic violence” serves as an anecdotal data point related to this indicator, highlighting the prevalence of intimate partner violence which often co-occurs with child abuse.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.	Indicator 16.2.1: The article details severe physical punishment (hitting with belts, spoons) and psychological aggression (forced standing for hours, forced running), which are measured by this indicator.
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being.	Implied Indicator: The article implies the need for and existence of mental health services by listing resources like “The Family Support Center” which offers counseling for families under stress and victims of abuse.
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.	Indicator 5.2.1: The perpetrator’s history of “domestic violence” and the abuse of the 8-year-old daughter are examples of violence in the private sphere that this indicator tracks.

Source: ksl.com