Child abuse is the physical, psychological, social, emotional or sexual maltr

Child abuse is the physical, psychological, social, emotional or sexual maltreatment of a child. It harms or endangers the survival, safety, self-esteem, growth and/or development of the child. It can involve a single act or a pattern of incidents.
   Family Violence research indicates that even when children are not direct targets of violence in the home, they can be harmed by witnessing its occurrence. Children who live in situations of family violence can suffer immediate and permanent physical harm, even death. They can also experience short and long-term emotional, behavioral and developmental problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
   In some cases of physical and sexual abuse, the victims have considerable problems with behavior, negative peer involvement, depression, anxiety, violence to others, developmental delays, irregular school attendance and inappropriate sexual behavior.
   It is known that witnessing family violence is as harmful as experiencing it directly. Often parents believe that they have shielded their children from intimate partner violence, but research indicates that children see or hear many of the incidents. Children who witness family violence suffer the same consequences as those who are directly abused. In other words, a child who witnesses intimate partner violence is experiencing a form of child abuse.
   Remember in your mind: every child has the right to be nurtured and to be safe.