Child abuse refers to the intended, unintended and perceived maltreatment of the child, whether habitual or not, including any of the following:

• Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual and emotional maltreatment.

• Any act, deed or word which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being.

• Unreasonable deprivation of his/her basic needs for survival such as food and shelter, or failure to give timely medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his/her growth and development or in his/her permanent incapacity or death.

• Physical abuse is inflicting physical injury upon a child.

• Emotional abuse includes acts or the failure to act by parents, caretakers, peers and others that have caused or could cause serious behavioural, cognitive, emotional, or mental distress/trauma.

• Sexual abuse is inappropriate sexual behaviour with a child. It includes fondling a child`s genitals, making the child fondle an adult`s genitals, sexual assault (intercourse, incest, rape and sodomy), exhibitionism and pornography.

• Child neglect is an act of omission or commission leading to the denial of a child`s basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational, emotional or psychological.

• Educational neglect includes failure to provide appropriate schooling or special educational needs. Psychological neglect includes lack of emotional support and love.