Petition by Vennie Kocsis, Author of Cult Child

Why I Created This Petition

I survived a childhood of brutal physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; much of it hidden under religious extremism and systemic silence. My story, though harrowing, is not unique. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children in the United States suffer abuse, neglect, and violence that goes unreported, uninvestigated, and unpunished.

The most recent comprehensive data available on child abuse and neglect in the United States comes from the Child Maltreatment report published by the Administration for Children and Families' Children's Bureau. This report indicates a worrying increase in fatalities. 

Here are some key statistics:

Estimated number of victims in FY 2022: 558,899.
Victimization rate: 7.7 per 1,000 children.

Fatalities

Estimated number of child fatalities in FY 2022: 1,990.
This is an increase from 1,930 fatalities in 2021.

It’s time for the U.S. government to stop looking away.

What We’re Demanding

We call on Congress and federal leaders to:

1. Fully Audit the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA): Establish a federally funded commission to ensure every state complies with CAPTA guidelines and uses funds for their intended purpose: protecting children, supporting caseworkers, and preventing abuse.
2. Make Everyone a Mandatory Reporter: Pass a federal law requiring all adults, not just those in specific professions like teachers or doctors, to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Silence should never be legally protected. See something, say something.
3. Investigate and Restrict the Sale of Materials That Instruct Child Abuse. Books like To Train Up a Child have been directly cited in multiple child death investigations for the physical discipline methods they instruct. Materials that function as literal how-to guides for practices resulting in documented child deaths should face the same scrutiny as any product proven to cause serious harm.
4. Eliminate the Statute of Limitations on Child Abuse: Survivors often need decades to process and report their abuse. Justice should not expire. Repeal limitations that prevent accountability.
5. Close Religious Loopholes That Protect Abusers:  No religious doctrine or belief system should be used to justify child abuse. CAPTA must override any claims of “faith-based discipline.”
6. Reform and Monitor Foster Care Systems: Demand transparency and ethical oversight to stop the exploitation and trafficking of foster children. Investigate illegal adoptions and state negligence.
7. Fund Required Parenting Education: Provide evidence-based, non-violent parenting education for all families; both in public schools and homeschooling environments.

Why This Matters

Child abuse is not a cultural issue. It is not a parental right. It is a violation of human rights.

We must get as serious about protecting living children as we are about protecting unborn children and adult freedoms. Every child in America deserves a safe, loving, abuse-free life.

What Signing This Petition Will Do

Your signature will help us:

• Push Congress to enforce CAPTA and investigate state misuse of child protection funds.
• Demand legal action against the publication and promotion of child abuse literature.
• Advocate for laws making all adults mandatory reporters.
• Rally public support for removing statutes of limitation on child abuse.
• Bring national attention to a neglected crisis affecting millions.

Take Action
Sign. Share. Speak up.

Let’s create a future where no child has to survive what I did. Together, we can rewrite this story; from silence and survival to safety and justice.

The petition will be sent to:

The Us House of Representatives
217 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC

Supreme Court of the United States
1 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Thank you for caring about the protection of children. Your voice matters. 
 
Please watch this brief video about the signs of abuse and maltreatment.