The term child abuse refers to physical, emotional, verbal or sexual harm, as well as neglect, deprivation or financial harm experienced by a child under the age of 18, whether inside or outside the home or in any other environment. For the purpose of classification, children who are victims of human trafficking will be categorized as cases of trafficking, and the abuse they have suffered will be presented in the human trafficking section of this report.
Examples of individuals considered victims of child abuse include:
- A child aged 18 years or younger who has experienced violence within the household, where such violence was exerted by one or more family members.
- A child aged 18 years or younger who has experienced violence anywhere, where such violence was exerted by anyone (excluding trafficked children).
- A child aged 18 years or younger who has experienced constant neglect, such as being deprived of basic necessities, such as food, water, shelter and medical care, by their parents or guardians.