April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is almost unbelievable to think that our society needs to be reminded to protect the innocent and most vulnerable among us, but we do. If anything we should be reminded to do it daily. Predatory, disturbed, and damaged people have preyed on children (emotionally, physically, and sexually) since the dawn of time. One major difference today is that television and social media allow us to see into the dark, sinister world of these serial child abusers, pedophiles, and human traffickers in graphic detail.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tens of thousands of children are being emotionally scarred, physically beaten, and sexually violated daily. Sometimes they are even killed by predators who view them as little more than property to be used and discarded at will.
Some abusers sneak in and out of the shadows of our cities and towns, and others walk among us as trusted family members, neighbors, teachers, clergy, doctors, lawyers, police, etc. There is no element of society that does not have abusers in their midst.
The saddest part of this horrific phenomenon is that many of these abusers were themselves abused as children; severely and irrevocably damaged to the point that they become the abuser, thus perpetuating a sick and twisted cycle. The innocence of childhood isn’t lost, it’s taken, and evil isn’t born, it’s bred. Without intercession, evil will beget evil, so we must act, both as individuals and as a society.
Be watchful over the innocent. Intercede on behalf of those who have no voice and no choice. Make a call, report abuse, give money, be a friend, protect a child. Act, whenever, wherever, and however we can. Then maybe . . . just maybe we can stop this abhorrent cycle and we won’t need a Child Abuse Prevention Month.
#preventchildabuse http://www.missingkids.com
Awareness is key to halting and preventing these crimes. It is not enough to have only a month dedicated to it. It is a start however. I’m at an age where this sort of abuse was not mentioned- ever! But I can tell you, the effects from such violations can last a very long time. I worked at a time when sexual harassment had no laws in the work environment. It has taken decades to bring this to the level of awareness it has reached now. I’m thankful such measures exist now. Be diligent people! Become aware and become educated as to signs and symptoms and do your part-report! It could mean a childs life!