Child Abuse Statistics
Take a look at these statistics from KidsHealth.org -- they are frightening and sickening:
- An estimated one million children are abused every year in the United States. However, these are only the reported incidents -- many more are unreported and undetected, often because children are afraid to tell.
- Approximately 1,000 to 1,300 U.S. children die as a result of physical abuse, and those who survive suffer emotional trauma that lasts long after the bruises have healed.
- As many as one out of every eight boys and one out of every four girls are sexually abused before turning 18 years old. In 90% of these cases, sexual abuse occurs in the home, particularly when younger children are involved. Ninety percent of the cases involve an abuser who was previously known to the child.
Again, these statistics do not refer to some third-world, war-torn, or developing nation. These horrible numbers reflect abused children right here in America. Want to see more? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources publishes an annual report on the maltreatment of children. Links to reports for the latest three years' are here: 2001 Report, 2002 Report, and 2003 Report.
I believe that this pervasive problem is both a travesty and a national embarrassment. In the coming days, I will devote several posts to this important subject. I hope that you will read these posts, take them to heart, and share this information with others to help turn the tide and protect our children.
I think that anybdoy who has the nerve to abuse their children in any form whether it be physical, sexual, or emotinal is stupid. I am 18 years old and I was emotionallly abused since i can remember. My parents never told me they loved me and that i was a burden to them. Try growing up everyday having your parents call you names and tell you that they hate you, it is hard. I would go on and on but I am over it. It still hurts but it hurts me more to know that being abused in any way can taunt a child for the rest of their life and the parents who caused it does not care until their child suffers a horrible social life or worse, their child ends up dead. People now and days are more worried about other things then their kids but you know what, if you didn't want them in the first place then close your legs or use protection until you are ready.
I am 17 years old and I am currently doing a project on child abuse awareness for school and i was shocked and descusted while reserching for it. It hurts my heart to know that everyday children are mentaly of physically abused in some way. The fatality rate of abused children is huge to me because weather it is one dead child b/c of abuse or a thousand dead children the value of their lives are all the same. I was also emotionally abuse throughout my life by my father. I know exactly what Leslie is talking about. It become very hard to look at your self in the mirror and see a person of value when someone is always telling you that you are worthless. I do not understand how anyone could hurt a child physically, sexually,or emotionally! It completely discusts me and for this reason I am trying to raise the awareness of child abuse at my school. April was national child abuse awareness month and i dont remember seeing any signs up or any of the kids wearing ribbins for it. We were given ribbons for national aids awarness month...but why not for child abuse? There is not cure for aids but there are thousands of ways to stop child abuse!The reason was because noone knew the importance of april,but now they will.
I am 17 years old and I am currently doing a project on child abuse awareness for school and i was shocked and descusted while reserching for it. It hurts my heart to know that everyday children are mentaly of physically abused in some way. The fatality rate of abused children is huge to me because weather it is one dead child b/c of abuse or a thousand dead children the value of their lives are all the same. I was also emotionally abuse throughout my life by my father. I know exactly what Leslie is talking about. It become very hard to look at your self in the mirror and see a person of value when someone is always telling you that you are worthless. I do not understand how anyone could hurt a child physically, sexually,or emotionally! It completely discusts me and for this reason I am trying to raise the awareness of child abuse at my school. April was national child abuse awareness month and i dont remember seeing any signs up or any of the kids wearing ribbins for it. We were given ribbons for national aids awarness month...but why not for child abuse? There is not cure for aids but there are thousands of ways to stop child abuse!The reason was because noone knew the importance of april,but now they will.