Child Abuse Silence Be Gone: The Declaration of the Rights of the Child November 20, 1959

The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development, both materially and spiritually.

The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is backward must be helped, the delinquent child must be reclaimed, and the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succored. The child must be the first to receive relief in times of distress.

The child must be put in a position to earn a livelihood, and must be protected against every form of exploitation.The child must be brought up in the consciousness that its talents must be devoted to the service of its fellow men.

"There is an undeniable Existence in motion called "YOU" who has survived, pressed through to success and reaching forward for the ultimate take-off and that often comes in the process of maturity." Patricia E. Adams

It is difficult to ignore the events that have and are unfolding in the media of high profile cases of Child Sexual Abuse Cases that have gone unreported for decades. People asked why they waited so long to report what happened and what was their motive in coming forward after so many years. Is there an expiration, or shelf-life or time limit on the pain these children suffered at the hands of someone who should have protected and guided them. It is important to keep children safe and as much as it pains me to know that somewhere a child is being violated as I write this. It pains me even more that the damage to those who have been victimized will affect them in multiple ways for the duration of their lives.

It is critical to a child to know there is someone who will protect them and will believe them and stand up for them! Those who prey on children bully, intimidate, manipulate, shame and coerce their prey into silence! Sometimes, those who are told have difficulty comprehending what has happened to the child oftentimes and keep the secret between them and the child. At that age a child does not realize that the secret shared between the individual they told and themselves becomes a self-imposed prison for life if the adult does not advocate for justice. The Magna Carta states " To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice."..."The reason one goes to court is to get justice, and "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied""

Justice must not be denied to children, and especially to those children who are now adults -- because that wounded child is still imprisoned within and will be as long as the aftermath of their abuse goes unresolved! If you are reading this and you have been abused call the hotline at 1-800-4ACHILD (800-422-4453). Visit this website for additional emergency numbers and information on reporting child abuse.