WE ARE RESCUING CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING

There is no place for child abuse in this world.

When it comes to violence against children, the world knows no boundaries. We’re amplifying the work of those battling the global issues of child sexual abuse, child trafficking, incest and exploitation to give children the strength not just to survive, but to thrive.

Types of Child Abuse

Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect of children and can take on many forms.

▪ Physical abuse: hitting, beating, shaking
▪ Sexual abuse: sexual contact or exposure to sexual acts or materials
▪ Emotional or psychological abuse: threatening, insulting, ridiculing, confining
▪ Neglect: Failing, despite having the means, to provide medical care, education, shelter or other essentials for a child’s healthy development
▪ Human trafficking: recruitment, transportation, transferring, harboring or receiving children for the purpose of exploitation
▪ Child soldiers: the recruitment, use and exploitation of children by armed forces and groups

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Child Abuse and Exploitation Facts

World Health Organization compiled the following facts about child abuse and exploitation:

▪ Worldwide, 1 in 4 adults were abused as a child
▪ In the past year, 23% of children reported physical abuse and 26% of children reported sexual abuse
▪ Every year, about 41,000 children under 15 years are victims of homicide
▪ Having parents or caregivers who suffered abuse or neglect as children or misuse drugs or alcohol increases the risk of child abuse
▪ Research shows that children with disabilities are four times more likely to suffer from abuse or neglect

Warning Signs for Child Abuse

Child sexual abuse isn’t always easy to spot according to RAINN. The perpetrator could be someone you’ve known a long time or trust, which may make it even harder to notice.

Physical warning signs:
▪ Bleeding, bruises, or swelling in genital area
▪ Bloody, torn, or stained underclothes
▪ Difficulty walking or sitting

Behavioral warning signs:
▪ Exhibits signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
▪ Expresses suicidal thoughts, especially in adolescents
▪ Has trouble in school, such as absences or drops in grades
▪ Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviors
▪ Runs away from home or school
▪ Shrinks away or seems threatened by physical contact

What is Child Trafficking?

Child trafficking exploits children and often subjects them to violence and abuse. Modern slavery is an umbrella term encompassing various forms of coercion that violate international human rights and labor standards.

Statistics from US Fund for UNICEF:
▪ 5.7 million children are currently living in forced marriages
▪ The International Labour Organization estimates that there are 10 million children subjected to modern slavery
▪ Anyone can be trafficked regardless of class, education, gender or age when coerced or lured by false promises
▪ People who are trafficked suffer from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and rarely have access to an education or to health care

Get Help

Children are never to blame for abuse, exploitation or trafficking. They are the victim. But each of these things can be prevented with the help of interventions, education and life-skills training, offering high-quality responses and support services and enforcing laws against child abuse.

For more information and resources if you suspect abuse, please contact:
▪ Childhelp
▪ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
▪ Project C.H.A.N.C.E

NOSIPHO’S HEARTFELT JOURNEY

Abandoned at seven years old, Nosipho was found on the streets by a woman who took her in and falsely claimed her as a foster child to receive government funding. She used Nosipho for slave labor—which including having forced sexual intercourse with her husband.

Jackie Branfield, founder of Operation Bobbi Bear, an organization based in South Africa that rescues and rehabilitates sexually abused children, gave Nosihpo a second chance at a new life. Jackie promised to care for her and to always be her family—a promise she has kept. Today, Nosipho is 14 years old. She is happy, healthy and thriving in all aspects of her life.