Child Abuse
How can someone abuse a defenseless child? That question is usually asked every time we hear about such thing. Child abuse is one of the most terrible, saddest and most tragic problems that each society suffers from. It occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and in urban and rural communities. It is, however, more common in some groups, especially those below the poverty line. It is a serious problem that plagues youth all around the world. Each year an estimated percentage of children around the world are being beaten, neglected, or sexually and emotionally abused by their parents or guardian.
Every child has the right to be in a safe home, instead of having to fear for their lives …show more content…
This failure of providing the necessities that every child needs, like food, clothes, water, supervision and a shelter, endangers the child’s physical health, well-being, psychological growth and development. Moreover, physical neglect can severely impact a child’s development by causing failure to thrive; malnutrition; serious illness; physical harm in the form of cuts, bruises, burns or other injuries due to the lack of supervision; and a lifetime of low self-esteem. Child neglect is not always easy to spot, in some cases; the parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for the child, such as with serious injury, untreated depression or anxiety. And in other cases, if the parents are addicted or alcoholics, they might seriously impair judgment and the ability to keep the child …show more content…
It is very important to recognize that sexual abuse doesn’t always involve body contact. Exposing a child to sexual situations or material is sexually abusive, if there was touching or not. Sexual abuse normally occurs by someone that the child knows and should be able to trust, most often close relatives. Besides, it is not just girls that can be sexually abused, both boys and girls suffer from this problem. Sexually abused children are tormented by shame and guilt; some might feel that they are responsible for the abuse or somehow brought it upon themselves. This can also lead to self-loathing and sexual problems as they grow older, often excessive promiscuity or inability to have intimate relations. The shame that the children face makes it hard for them to come forward. They may worry that others won’t believe them, will be angry with them, or that it will split their family apart. So because of these difficulties false accusations of sexual abuse is not common to hear about. So if a child ever confides into you, take him/her seriously, don’t turn a blind