Unfortunately, the news that comes to us about child abuse, about child abuse or about any type of violence against the most defenseless and vulnerable are not uncommon. Just yesterday we saw a sad example.
The medical magazine "The Lancet" has launched a special on child abuse, where the incidence of these figures in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Canada.
Some figures that leave paralyzed, because according to the investigation until 16% of children in these countries are physically abused and 10% are careless or suffer psychological abuse. In addition, up to 30% of girls and 15% of boys are exposed to some form of sexual abuse.
And, if the figures are dramatic when we talk about rich countries, the incidence of this scourge is much greater when it comes to underdeveloped or developing countries. In Latin America up to 63% of children could live in a situation of physical, sexual, emotional or neglect abuse.
And all with the serious consequences that this entails, from prenatal or infant mortality in the worst case to future consequences in the emotional and physical health of those affected (addictions, risky sexual behaviors, criminal behaviors ...).
Tremendous figures also indicate that in 80% of cases of abused children the perpetrators are the parents.
Undoubtedly we are facing a complex problem, to which we must oppose a zero tolerance and to which close cooperation must be established between doctors, schools and child protection specialists to help combat it.
