Violence Against Children

Millions of children in the United States and across the globe are subjected to violence each year. The World Health Organization has estimated that 40 [Page 1125]million children under the age of 15 are victims of abuse and neglect annually. The rate at which children are exposed to violence increases when other types of violence (e.g., youth violence, dating violence) are included. A recent survey of a national sample of children in the United States suggests that close to two-thirds (60.6%) of children either directly experienced or witnessed at least one victimization in the past year, with 1 in 10 sustaining a victimization-related injury. Violence against children occurs in many forms (e.g., physical, emotional, sexual) and settings (e.g., home, community, school), and its outcomes (e.g., ...