In some countries this crime rates highly while in others it is ignored.
Abuse of children is not only about physical abuse but mental tampering, kidnapping, imprisonment and slavery are also involved.
Parents often kidnap their kids when denied access or after a bitter divorce.
Such children are also subjected to stress of other types as well.
Divorce is nasty and children suffer when parents tear themselves apart and often each other prior to or after the act.
What they were born into has suddenly altered and the young brain can barely get the head around the fact that daddy and mummy are no longer together.
That is aside from the realisation that they may not even be talking to each other.
In that case the child becomes the go-between.
Stress arises about what they should say and what will be dangerous for them to relate.
Parents in that situation may not realise that this is child abuse.
Forcing a young mind into a situation where it has to betray one or other of its parents is akin to using him or her as a spy.
Returning to the betrayed parent may also bring consequences if the knowledge of what is going on comes to the fore.
This can push some ex-partners over the edge, especially if the former spouse is dating again or doing better financially than before.
It can call for retribution as the hate and anger builds.
There are times and ways that the punishment can be enacted and the shock effect are horrendous.
The worst shock of all is the murder of a child and, unfortunately, this is happening all too often.
The other way is kidnapping and removing the child from the country.
In the latter case some countries do not allow International child recovery and that may place more stress on a young mind that is in a strange situation, does not speak the language and is removed from all it knows, including grandparents and possibly siblings