How much does child death cost?

Today I will talk about a rather cynical study . As our great compatriot wrote, the happiness of all mankind is not worth the tears of one child. However, today scientists can even count the state's expenses for every child murder. It turns out that everything has its own value expression, even violence against children.

According to the analysis of the initial data, sexual abuse of children in the United States costs a pretty penny budget: the girl's death costs $ 1.1 million, and the boys $ 1.5 million.

Researchers from the University of Atlanta (Georgia State University) measured the economic costs of sexual abuse of children, calculating the costs of health care, the loss of productive forces, social security costs for children, the maintenance of criminals, special education, and additional costs due to suicides. The findings were published in the monthly magazine, entirely devoted to the protection of children "Child Abuse & Neglect".

It has been estimated that the overall economic burden of sexual violence against children in the United States is $ 9.3 billion annually, based on data from the past few years, starting in 2015. With regard to cases of sexual abuse of children that did not lead to death, the cost of damage is estimated at $ 282,734 for a female victim. Not having sufficient information on the decline in labor productivity for male victims, the researchers received a lower estimated loss of $ 74,691.

Dr. Xiangming Fang, a health and policy specialist, explained that their research shows how much the economic burden of sexual abuse of children in American society is. The costs of financing the consequences of crimes against sexual inviolability are significant, so reducing the number of such cases will not only eliminate the suffering of potential victims, not only save many children's lives, but will also positively influence the economic and social climate in the state. Using programs to prevent child abuse can improve the welfare and development of the United States.
The World Health Organization defines sexual violence against children as the child's participation in sexual activities, which he does not fully understand, for which he can not give informed consent, which his body is not yet ready for, which violate state laws and social norms of society. These actions occur between the child (in most countries this is the age of 18 years) and an adult or other minor who, due to a greater age or better development, subordinates the victim. If a person is responsible for a child, if he is trusted, if he has power over a small person, then there is a potential danger of violence in this situation.

Sexual violence against children also includes commercial sexual exploitation - the use of children for the production of pornographic materials.

Estimates of the prevalence of child sexual abuse in the United States are shocking: under the age of 18, about one in four girls (26.6 percent) and every twentieth (5.1 percent) were victims of criminal attacks. Although according to other available data, the number of the latter is not 5, but 16 percent, and then this is every sixth male child. International statistics of child abuse is even higher - especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The consequences of sexual abuse of children include an increased risk:

• development in the child of future severe mental, physical and behavioral disorders

• venereal diseases

• attempts to harm yourself and suicides

• Drug Abuse and Aggressive Behavior

• the subsequent victimization - such people often become victims of other criminal offenses.

The researchers studied data on 20 cases of sexual violence against children that ended in their deaths, as well as 40,387 episodes of non-fatal sexual dysfunction, which were recorded in 2015. They received all this information from the National System for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, which operates from the national agency "Children's Bureau" (United States Children's Bureau), as well as from the reports on child abuse issued by the US Department of Health.

Of course, the above statistics are impressive in the negative sense of the word, and it is unlikely that the situation in Russia with these crimes is better. What can society do about it? Probably, at least not pass indifferently past the children in danger. Although there is another extreme - you can start rushing at any adult, from the excess of kindness giving to extraneous children a candy. However, can well, these sweets, they are still harmful?