Quite rightly, our society has many initiatives and laws aimed at irradicating child abuse.
However, I would like to suggest that there is one area of abuse which is being ignored because it would affect the freedom of adults in a way that would be unacceptable in our pleasure-seeking society. This abuse is that which children suffer when their parents' relationship breaks down.
CARE has published a report1 which compares cohabitation and marriage. The report says 'there is overwhelming evidence that the break-up of partnerships or marriages is damaging to children; the resulting instability means that children are more likely to suffer from poor performance in school and a lack of concentration, and are more anxious and attention-seeking when young. They are more likely to fall ill, to have behavioural problems, to fall prey to solvent, drug and alcohol abuse and to come before the criminal courts' (p.23).
