Child Abuse Essay
Child Abuse
Child abuse is a widely spread debated topic in today’s society. “Justice, dignity, equality- these are words which are used loosely with little appreciation of their meaning. I think that their meaning can be distilled into one goal: that every child in this country live as we would want our own children to live.”-Robert F. Kennedy. In its broadest sense the term refers to any harm physically or emotionally done to a child (“Understanding Child Abuse”). On average, a child abuse report is made every ten seconds for a total of approximately three point three million child abuse reports annually. Each day more than five children die as a result of abuse or neglect. (“Child Abuse Prevention”). A child is an innocent victim to the adult even if they are causing trouble, abuse is no answer. Children are born into the world totally dependent upon their parents or caretakers for their survival and welfare (“Child Abuse and Neglect”). Parents are supposed to provide unconditional care, protection and emotional support to their children. Child abuse is one of the most controversial social topics of our time.
The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as: an act of failure to act as a caretaker and physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible to the child’s welfare under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened (“Understanding Child Abuse”). Therefore, child abuse is the violence and cruelty that occurs against children at the hands of adults, and crimes are without reasonable defense because the victims are extremely vulnerable and unable to defend themselves. It is worth nothing that laws were passed regarding animals cruelty ten years prior to child cruelty laws in 1874. Children did not have much legal status before the twentieth century. They were seen as small
Child abuse is a widely spread debated topic in today’s society. “Justice, dignity, equality- these are words which are used loosely with little appreciation of their meaning. I think that their meaning can be distilled into one goal: that every child in this country live as we would want our own children to live.”-Robert F. Kennedy. In its broadest sense the term refers to any harm physically or emotionally done to a child (“Understanding Child Abuse”). On average, a child abuse report is made every ten seconds for a total of approximately three point three million child abuse reports annually. Each day more than five children die as a result of abuse or neglect. (“Child Abuse Prevention”). A child is an innocent victim to the adult even if they are causing trouble, abuse is no answer. Children are born into the world totally dependent upon their parents or caretakers for their survival and welfare (“Child Abuse and Neglect”). Parents are supposed to provide unconditional care, protection and emotional support to their children. Child abuse is one of the most controversial social topics of our time.
The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as: an act of failure to act as a caretaker and physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible to the child’s welfare under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened (“Understanding Child Abuse”). Therefore, child abuse is the violence and cruelty that occurs against children at the hands of adults, and crimes are without reasonable defense because the victims are extremely vulnerable and unable to defend themselves. It is worth nothing that laws were passed regarding animals cruelty ten years prior to child cruelty laws in 1874. Children did not have much legal status before the twentieth century. They were seen as small
Cited: Almond, Lucinda. Child Abuse. Farmington Hills: Green Haven Press, 2006. Print. Bross, D.C. “Child Abuse and Neglect.” – Journal. Elsevier.com, n.d. web. 01 Mar. 2013 <http://www.journals.elsevier.com/child-abuse-and-neglect/>. Dehann, Tracee. Crimes Against Children: Child Abuse and Neglect. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Pulishers, 2000 Havelin, Kate. Child Abuse: Why do my parents hit me?” Mankato: Capstone Press, 2000. Print. O’meara, Sara. “Child Abuse Prevention.” Childhelp.org. Childhelp.web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://www.childhelp.org/pages/child-abuse-prevention1> Smith, Melinda. “Child Abuse and Neglect.” Helpguide.com. Help Guide, Nov. 2012. Web. 13 Dec. 2012 <http://www.helpuide.org/mental/child-abuse-physical-emotional-sexual-neglect.htm>. Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. Washington, D.C. : National Academy, 1993. Print.