Adults have a responsibility to ensure this basic right for all children. Children are the most vulnerable citizens of our society. Because of this, they are at risk for abuse and neglect. The effects of child abuse and neglect can be traumatic and long lasting and in some cases result in the death of a child. Child abuse can be defined as a non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child.
Sexual abuse is any behavior imposed on a juvenile.
This involves a range of activities, including the fondling of the genital area, masturbation, oral sex, or vaginal or anal penetration by a finger, penis or other object. In includes exhibitionism, child pornography, and suggestive behaviors or comments. Emotional abuse is expressing attitudes or behaviors toward a child that create serious emotional or psychological damage. Child neglect can be defined as any serious disregard for a juvenile's supervision, care or discipline. In determining whether a juvenile is neglected, it is relevant whether that juvenile lives in a home where another juvenile had died as a result of abuse or neglect or lives in a home where another juvenile has been subjected to sexual abuse or severe physical abuse by an adult who regularly lives in the home.