Arizona Governor Brewer commits to end child abuse

PHOENIX - It is very rare that the entire country can ever come together on something, but when it involves child abuse everyone seems to be in agreement.

Friday, Governor Jan Brewer will unveil a new commitment to eliminate child abuse backed by the governors of all 50 states.

Supporters with the anti-child abuse organization, Childhelp say this new resolution could not have come soon enough.

“The fall of the U.S. economy has put a lot of families on hard times,” Childhelp’s Vice President, Paul Penzone said. “Child abuse is up more than ever now because of money frustrations.”

According to the United Nations Children's Fund, 51 children died from abuse in 2009 in Arizona alone. The organization says five children die per day in the U.S. from child abuse. UNICEF says those deaths add up to more than 1,700 children annually.

Based on a UNICEF report, the United States has abuse and neglect death rates that are 10 to 15 times higher than the average for leading countries. The U.S. represents 42 percent of the world’s total deaths for children under the age of 15 in abuse related cases.

“This resolution is a commitment to provide governmental support to more troubled families,” said Penzone. ”The aim is to eliminate as much abuse as possible.”

The unveiling will take place at the state capitol in downtown Phoenix at 10:30 a.m.