Tuesday, June 01, 2010

We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in the U.S.


Every Child Matters released a 2009 report titled We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America which predicted that abuse and neglect deaths of U.S. children would continue to increase unless the federal government made the issue a priority.

U.S. cuts will perpetuate child abuse highlights the growing child abuse epidemic in America:

  • The United States has the highest number of child abuse fatalities of the world's richest democracies, with death rates that are three times higher than Canada's, and 11 times higher than Italy's.
  • Three million reported cases of child abuse and neglect result in 2,000 deaths in the US annually. 
  • Since 2001, 30,000 American children have been killed in their own homes, taken their own lives or been murdered in their own neighbourhoods.
  • This does not account for the fact that up to 60% of child abuse goes unreported. 
To sign a petition asking Congress to hold a hearing on child abuse related deaths, please visit Homeland Insecurity: Why new investments in children and youth must be a priority for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress.

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