The Problem

Child abuse is a worldwide epidemic

Whether you are in America, England, Australia, Europe, India, China, Thailand or Africa, there is no exception. The plight of children is overwhelming. From violence, to trafficking and child labour, to pornography, prostitution and sexual abuse. The statistics are growing and their stories are becoming more painful.

Child abuse can occur in many forms

• It can be physically abusive behaviour such as punching, kicking, burning, shaking or slapping.
• Abuse can be in the form of maltreatment, when behaviour towards the child goes outside of normal conduct and there is substantial risk of causing harm.
• A prevalent type of abuse worldwide is sexual abuse: when a child is taken advantage of in a sexual manner or used in pornography and prostitution.  
• Another form of abuse is neglect. When the caregiver fails to provide for a child's basic physical needs. This can include inadequate food, shelter, clothing, hygiene and supervision.
• Psychological abuse is also very harmful. This can involve not providing adequate nurture and emotional support. It can involve actions such as verbal abuse, rejection, isolation or belittlement. It can also involve the child being exposed to violence, especially within the family context.
• Bullying is a serious problem that is on the increase. There are three main types of bullying: emotional, verbal, and physical. Children who are bullied are 9 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts.  An estimated 200 million children, as young as three years of age, and youth around the world are bullied by their peers (2007 Kandersteg Declaration Against Bullying in Children and Youth).
  
  
  

Who are the offenders?

People who abuse children are most often the closest to the child. It can start right in the home, or extended family.

It can be in places you trust, such as:

• school
• church
• day-care centre
• sports club
  
  
  

Lets take a closer look at sexual abuse

• Sex offenders can be male or female and also other children. Female sex offender, normally go undetected. Less than five percent of offenders are strangers!
• People may think that the offender is very good with kids but this is a tactic they use to build trust with the child and the adults around them.
• Statistics from the World Health Organisation:
• Studies from around the world also show that approximately 20% of women and 5%–10% of men report having been sexually abused as children.
• 90% of victims know their attacker (family or friend)
• 95% of allegations prove to be true
• Only 10% of reports are made while the abuse is taking place
  
  

The impact of child abuse

On the child

• Children feel confused, ashamed and trapped
• They are silenced by their attacker with threats of guilt and punishment
• A person who is abused as a child can suffer from a life-time of profound mental health issues
• Studies reveal that child abuse can cause chronic disease, obesity, at-risk behaviours and addictions during adult life

On society as a whole

• Child abuse affects the health and social wellbeing of a nation
• It can slow down the economic and social development of a country
• Elderly people with significant adverse childhood experienes die on average 20 years earlier than the rest of the population
• Billions of dollars are spent each year on the health care and shelter for children who have been harmed by their parents
• In America, child mortality rates due to abuse is five deaths per day