Violence against children is a phenomenon that occurs throughout the world, in forms of physical and psychological violence. Children are deprived of care, basic social services, healthcare and education, suffer abuse, are neglected, exploited, forced to beg, victims of trafficking. Children still represent one of the social groups at risk, facing many problems that remain unsolved. Although the consequences may vary depending on the type and severity of the violence, the short- and long-term consequences for children are most often severe, destructive and costly. Laws protecting children's rights are often not effective. Child abuse takes various forms and is influenced by a variety of factors, from the individual characteristics of the victim and the abuser, to the cultural and physical environment in which they live. While physical injuries may or may not be immediately visible, abuse can have lifelong consequences. As many as 115 children are abused every hour. Physical consequences, such as damage to a child's growing brain, can have psychological implications such as emotional difficulties. Psychological problems are often recognizable as high-risk behaviors. Depression and anxiety, for example, can make a person more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, or overeat. As a result they can lead to long-term physical health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancer and obesity. Physical abuse is often accompanied by psychological, emotional abuse. Insults, isolation, rejection, intimidation, emotional indifference and underestimation are all forms of abuse that can impact the psychological development and well-being of children, especially when coming from an adult you respect and who invests emotionally, such as a parent. ...... half of the sheet ...... g. This could be volunteering at your local community center once a month or even simply paying attention to the local news to stay aware of what's happening in your community. Action can mean many different things. If everyone played a small role, the change would be huge. Let's unite, let's prepare a better future for our children, where violence is not a norm, but violence is a crime. Works Cited1. World Health Organization (WHO). Report of the Consultation on the Prevention of Child Abuse. Geneva, 29-31 March. 1999. http://www.who.int/entity/violence_injury_prevention/violence/global_campaign/en/chap3.pdf2. Wang, C. T., Holton, J. (2007). Estimated total cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States. Chicago: Preventing Child Abuse in America. http://www.preventchildabuse.org/about_us/media_releases/pcaa_pew_economic_impact_study_final.pdf