What is Abuse and Neglect?

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse of neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger for example via the internet. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.