Stop Abuse

Animal Abuse

Cruelty to animals refers to treatment or standards of care that cause unwarranted or unnecessary suffering or harm to animals. Standards of both animal cruelty legislation, and enforcement, may vary between different places from non-existent through to comprehensive, and the acts and conditions which are deemed "cruel" also vary. Opinions are divided whether practices such as factory farming, fur farming and animal testing of medical procedures and consumer products pose a major moral issue.

Cases in which cruelty to animals is due to a deliberate wish to be cruel (as opposed to neglect), are known as zoosadism, and have been repeatedly linked via research with abuse and cruelty to people (including the more sensationalist examples of torture and killing). In such extreme cases cruelty to animals may also have occurred, as a "rehearsal" or as an aspect of development. However this should be viewed in perspective; not all cruelty is sadism, nor are all persons who are cruel to animals necessarily going to be abusive towards people.

Human Rights Abuse

Human rights refers to "the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law."The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

The idea of human rights descended from the philosophical idea of natural rights that are provided by God; some recognize virtually no difference between the two and regard both as labels for the same thing while others choose to keep the terms separate to eliminate association with some features traditionally associated with natural rights. John Locke is perhaps the most important philosopher that developed this theory.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse, by one definition, is a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person

Spousal Abuse

Spousal abuse refers to a wide spectrum of abuse. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse and financial abuse. The abuser can be the husband or wife as can the victim.

Child Abuse

Child abuse is the physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment or neglect of children by parents, guardians, or others. While most child abuse happens in the child's home, large numbers of cases of child abuse have been identified within some organizations involving children, such as churches, schools, child care businesses, and in particular native residential schools or in government agencies. It also sometimes occurs almost anywhere.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has a wide range of definitions related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. Some of the most commonly abused drugs include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methaqualone, and opium alkaloids. Use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, both strongly depending on local jurisdiction. Other definitions of drug abuse fall into four main categories: public health definitions, mass communication and vernacular usage, medical definitions, and political and criminal justice definitions

Verbal Abuse

Verbal abuse is a form of abusive behavior involving the use of language. Verbal abuse is different from profanity in that it can occur without profanity. In some countries, charges can be laid for verbal abuse under certain circumstances. Verbal abuse leaves no outer mark and no proof.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm.

Basic forms include:

• striking
• punching
• pushing, pulling
• slapping
• striking with an object
• pinching
• kicking
• having someone fall
• kneeing
• strangling
• drowning
• sleep deprivation
• exposure to cold, freezing
• exposure to heat or radiation, burning
• exposure to electric shock
• placing in "stress positions" (tied or otherwise forced)
• cutting or otherwise exposing somebody to something sharp
• exposure to a dangerous animal
• throwing or shooting a projectile
• exposure to a toxic substance
• infecting with a disease
• withholding food or medication
• spanking is subject to controversy as to whether it qualifies as physical abuse.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse (also referred to as molestation) is defined as the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person to another. The term incest is defined as sexual abuse between family members, and the euphemism "bad touch" is sometimes used to describe such abuse. In general, sexual abuse tends to be inflicted against females.

Spiritual Abuse

The term Spiritual abuse was coined in the late twentieth century to refer to abusive or aberrational practices identified in the behavior and teachings of some churches, spiritual and religious organizations and groups. The term tends to be used by Christian counselors and theologians, apologists in the Christian countercult movement, and former members of those churches or groups that are alleged to be abusive. Secular critics usually use more generic terms such as psychological or emotional abuse.

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