Awareness of child abuse is at an all-time high. But we must move from awareness to action if we are to protect the hidden victims of abuse.
Our Child Maltreatment study, published last week, uncovered the shocking reality of abuse and neglect in this country. Seven per cent of children suffer serious physical abuse - resulting in burns, bruises and broken bones. But children are not statistics. They are real people who deserve to grow up free from fear.
It is widely accepted that child protection is everyone's responsibility. The new phase of our Full Stop campaign aims to help make this a reality. If you watch television, you will have seen our powerful new adverts. These aim to help people do something, rather than turn away from child abuse.
Ordinary people still feel uneasy about taking action to protect children, even when they are a witness to abusive behaviour in the street or supermarket. We must empower people to act. Children who suffer abuse nearly always rely on neighbours, friends, and others to act on their behalf. But many are not brought to the attention of child protection agencies and suffer cruelty in silence for years.
There is nothing inevitable about child abuse. It can be stopped if all members of the public and professionals, including the NSPCC, watch out for children's welfare and act immediately on any warning signs of abuse. The NSPCC has expanded its helpline services with this in mind.
But the NSPCC is only one part in the big partnership between the public and professionals, which we want to build. If the law were changed to protect children from being hit, ordinary people would feel much more empowered to speak out and take action against child abuse. This alone should be enough for the Government to rethink its policy of inaction on this issue.
Anyone concerned about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC helpline free on 0808 800 500.
