Overall, we can say that child abuse is any action that endangers or harms a child's physical or emotional health and development. Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which cannot be reasonably explained and may be represented by an injury or series of injuries appearing to be non-accidental in nature.

Remember...

No one, absolutely no one, has the right to abuse you

You do not deserve to be abused. No one does.

If you are being abused, you are a victim. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

You should not suffer abuse pain, fear or sadness.

If you are an abused child, you are not alone, there are other kids who suffer abuse too.

There are people who care about you and want to help you.

Physical abuse can be described as any type of physical harm inflected upon a child by a parent or a caregiver. It includes beating, kicking, biting, shaking (especially of a newborn), strangling, burning or any other act that may cause injury or mutilation to a limb. This is true whether or not the act leaves bruises or visible marks.

Physical abuse may occur even when a parent or a caregiver has no intention of harming the child or the adolescent. At times this kind of abuse becomes inherited in overly strict child rearing methods, where children are subjected to emotional abuse as well as physical abuse because more often than not, abusive words accompany beating and other similar acts. In this case, children become victims of two types of abuse at the same time.

Emotional abuse can be defined as a behavioral pattern that bears negative effects on the emotional and social growth of children and adolescents. Further, it affects their psychological health and their sense of self-worth. Emotional abuse can manifest in various forms, most prominent are: the use of foul language, discouragement , terrorization, isolation, humiliation, rejection, ridicule, insensitive criticism, intentional disregard of the child, subjecting the child to degrading looks, insulting him before others or comparing him with them.

Sexual abuse of children is the use of a child or an adolescent (male or female) to satisfy sexual desires of adults. Sexual abuse includes molestation of the child (or the adolescent), exposing the child (or the adolescent) to activities or behaviors with sexual implications such as touching the child or seducing him to touch the abuser or have an intercourse with him. Further, sexual abuse of children can take the form of exposing the child (or the adolescent) to pornographic images of other children or adults or engaging him in the production of pornographic materials, whether with the purpose of publishing them on pornographic sites, or otherwise.

Negligence is a type of abuse that occurs as a consequence to parents or caregivers’ failure to provide appropriate care for the child according to his age. This includes clothing, food, education, guidance, medical care in addition to other basic needs deemed necessary for the child’s physical, mental and emotional development. Depraving the child of such needs may not be considered abuse if it was the result of dire circumstances. However, abuse occurs when the child is depraved as a result of parents or caregivers’ neglect and inattention.

Negligence differs drastically from physical and sexual abuse in the fact that it is persistent. It is among the most dangerous types of abuse and it carries a particularly increased risk for younger children.  Its disastrous effects can leave the child physically, mentally and emotionally challenged for life.