Since 2004, November has been designated the month when central and local governments and nongovernmental organizations campaign for prevention of child abuse. Extending support at the local community level will be important to help parents as well as children.
The police investigated 157 cases of child abuse in the first half of this year, 3.1 percent fewer than a year before, and took action against 165 people, the same number as a year before. Eleven children died of abuse, a drop of 62.1 percent.
But the situation is more severe than the figures suggest. In fiscal 2008, child consultation centers nationwide were contacted with regard to 42,664 cases of child abuse — a record number. It is believed the number of actual cases is several times that.