by Justice Liberty

Created on: March 16, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

Child Abuse is an international problem. It is sad how many people know of a child that is being or has been abused, and they say and or do nothing about it. I do not understand what would cause a person to keep this information to themselves. Reporting child abuse could save a child's life and or prevent them from getting harmed again.

I once knew a couple who abused their children, who actually beat them black and blue and then proceeded to take pictures of them. Can you believe the gull of these people? This same couple's older daughter also confided in me and told me that she was beaten on a daily basis, and that was why she wore long sleeves and jeans on hot days. She showed me her bruises and I was so heart broken for her. I was 17 years old at the time, and I called Child Protective Services on them, and also had a close friend call them as well. The sad part is that they questioned the 3 children that lived in the house, and the children denied it for fear of getting beaten again. Child Protective Services did start keeping an eye on them, so for the next six months or so, they were being monitored, and their children were treated better than they ever had been. Do you really think they were cured? Well Melissa continued to wear long sleeves and jeans on sweltering hot days just as soon as the Child Protective Services stopped making house calls.

When I am talking about child abuse, I am not talking about a parent spanking their child. I was spanked as a child, and I do NOT consider myself to have been an abused child. I agree that a person can go too far with spanking, but in most cases, it can be justified. I am talking about parents and or guardians leaving marks on their children by excessive physical force or abusing them verbally.

Verbal child abuse can be just as bad as the physical abuse. Verbal abuse can break the child down, and give them all sorts of mental problems. Verbal abuse, sadly, is not reported nearly as much as physical abuse, and is also harder to prove.

How well do you think an abused child develops? Do you think they become productive members of society? Surprisingly, many do overcome their abuse, but the vast majority end up having mental problems such as depression. It is so unfair for people to be able to have children and abuse them. Children learn from their parents and many times become abusers themselves, because they know no different. Do your best to get them out of abusive homes!

There are several ways you can contact authorities to save a child. You can contact your local police department, your local welfare department, your local child protective services office or use one of the contacts listed below:

Child Abuse Childhelp USA
Phone: 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)

Youth Crisis Hotline
Phone: 800-HIT-HOME (800-448-4663)

Child Sexual Abuse Stop It Now!
Phone: 888-PREVENT (888-773-8368)

Family Violence National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)

Youth in Trouble/Runaways Girls and Boys Town
Phone: 800-448-3000

Crime Victims National Center for Victims of Crime
Phone: 800-FYI-CALL (800-394-2255)

How can you live with yourself if you know a child that is being abused, and you are not telling? You can report child abuse anonymously, so you cannot use the excuse that you are scared of retaliation. Please do the right thing and help children who cannot help themselves.

Learn more about this author, Justice Liberty.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.