Nationally, more than 900,000 children were confirmed victims of maltreatment between Sept. 2005 and Oct. 2006, according to numbers released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roughly 10 percent of them had yet to reach their first birthday.
BOSTON. Well over 1,000 sneakers lined each of the 30 steps in front of the Statehouse, a vibrant display that brought the building to life. What they represented, however, is a somber fact for many children in the Bay State.
The 700 pairs of shoes are equal to the average number of confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect this state sees in just one week. That’s just one of many staggering numbers to come to the forefront in April, proclaimed yesterday as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“The symbolism of the shoes ... it’s particularly important when you think of who stands in those shoes,” Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said. “It calls on us to take [prevention measures] to another level.”
Massachusetts has the fourth highest rate of confirmed cases of abuse in the country, roughly half the national average. While much of that can be attributed to greater access to reporting cases, that doesn’t make each victim feel any better about it.
“For those kids, the pain and suffering is all too real,” said Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Executive Director Suzin Bartley of the 110,126 Massachusetts children reported as abused and neglected during 2006.
Each of the pairs of sneakers were donated by New Balance and will be given to children who took part in programs for CTF, the only statewide organization dedicated solely to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.