Child abuse?

There's this girl I met about four months ago (she recently moved to england from another country) and we became good friends.
I learned that her parents are very strict and a few days ago, she came to school quite upset (her eye was a bit swollen) and...

she told me what happened to her.
Apparently she had a little argument(not even an argument) with her dad and he started hitting her. She fell and banged her head of something and he started kicking her.
When I asked her if this happens a lot she said yes and that the country she comes from it is quite usual when parents bring up their children with punishments like this.
I don't believe in violence and I think that it is quite horrible. She is one of the best students in class and she is actually very clever, she does her homework to the best standert and always on time, has the best marks and still she says that for her parents it's not good enough in a way.
I tried to help her but I just couldn't think what to do...she is used to it and it's the way she's getting raised but it hurts her and upsets her. She does not want to speak to any councellor in school or to anyone because if anyone found out her parents might get in trouble.
She talks about it as of an usual think and that's what makes me wonder. Is it child abuse or not?
p.s. can you please write any suggestions of what she can do...

thanks a lot

Any form of punishment leaving a mark whether or not was caused by a fall should of never happened in the first place. THIS IS CHILD ABUSE!!!!. We bring up our kids with alternative ways of punishments. Hitting or striking kicking etc etc is not acceptable for any child/woman or man to ever have to face this form of abuse.

It was safe for her to tell you because she probably feels you can't do anything anyways. The truth lies within her fears of loosing her parents or being taken away is a form of conditioning the child so the truth doesn't come out. Kids will believe anything that adults tell them, it's how it is they are INNOCENT CHILDREN. A victim's fear will always be what the offender has told them etc..if you tell someone they will go to jail and it will be all your fault, or if you tell they will take you away and never bring you back and you will never see (parents, sibblings). You have to understand this is a way to control their victims.

Children are born as precious gifts, and not to be tossed around like they are trash. In our country if an adult in a professional field who deals with children fails to report any suspicions of child abuse can be faced with charges of failing to report child abuse which could be fined up to $5000.

Suspected child abuse can be reported without have to give your name or phone number it is all confidential. If you cannot to the reporting then you need to tell your parents what this child has said to you. This takes the pressure off of you for trying to figure out a way to help this child. Feeling helpless is a horrible feeling especially when you see it all the time and the only suggestion to do is talk to your parents. Your parents should either call the school or the authorities and have them do the investigations.

Hope this helps
Dawn

Wether or not it's the way she was raised, or if it's usual in her home country (WHich it might not be), in England it IS child abuse. Councillor's work in confidence, so if nothing else she'll have someone to off load on.

yes this is child abuse n mi suggestion of wat she should do is she should go n tell someone like a teacher at skool or police or anyone like that. her parents deserve 2 b punished 4 wat they do 2 this poor gurl. she has done nothing wrong but she still gets treated like crap. yea so take mi advise in hand n tell someone. i no all this coz the same thing happened 2 me until i told mi teacher at skool n they then told the police n mi parents got punished n they deserved everything they got. yea so hope this helps n good luck

the only problem is that she will NEVER tell anyone...i know her and i know she will NEVER admitt this to anyone , its like she herself believes that it is right.....

In my country all most all my Friend be it girl or boy got punnished in some way or another be it by hand or the Wooden Spoon or belt but if she has done nothing wrong then thats crossing the line coz we all only got hit if we did something wrong 6 of the best thats what we call it and a ice pack 4 ur A.S.S lol

this reminds me of that song concrete angel...this IS child abuse regardless of what she says..if shes not gonna do anything than you need to do something about it for her..other wise she could eventually end up like the little girl in the song...good luck!

Yes, it IS child abuse. Any act of physical violence from parent/guardian to child is in fact child abuse. She needs to do something about it and it's great that you want to help her but keep in mind this her indeed her father. I've known of girls who have been beaten by fathers/mothers and are too afraid to turn them in because of what it may do to their family. Though if she doesn't get help, things could only get worse.

you need to convince her that she is being abused and she doesnt have to live like this, make her realise her parents are in the wrong and should feel safe in her home environment, not scared of getting beaten, its not even a slap he is actually beating her! people are going to start to notice so either way teachers are going to find out when she is always coming to school with physical injuries, try and get her to talk to a teacher or coucellor so she can get help, even if her parents get in trouble who cares! they should, atleast she wont be beaten anymore.

..and the cycle continues to be passed down from one generation to another...
believing that we are inferior... and to the next.
I say itis our generation that is the 'change'.. we want the wprld to be.
the future we r..

TY all 4 speaking and yes it is childabuse-and awareness is the 1st step. btw april is nat'l child abuse awreness month fyi..