Child abuse and neglect represent some of the most serious
and enduring global phenomena, associated with deleterious
outcomes. Early maltreatment may lead to severe medical,
neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and social consequences
throughout the individual’s life span [1, 2]. The
World Health Organization (WHO) reports data on 34,000
homicidal deaths among children under 15 years of age each
year, with 20 % of women and 5–10 % of men reporting
histories of sexual abuse, and 23 % of individuals reporting
experiences of physical abuse in childhood [3]. In Europe, 55
million children are victims of emotional abuse, 44 million
of physical abuse, and 18 million of sexual abuse [4]. It is
widely recognized that reported estimates of child maltreatment
may only be the tip of the iceberg, representing
rather the efficiency of the system for the detection of violence,
as well as societal visibility of the problem, than true
indicators of the frequency [5, 6]. The scope of the problem
implies the importance of prevention programs worldwide
[7]. In Serbia, a country which has undergone significant
transitional and socio-political turbulence, efforts against
child maltreatment have traveled a step-by-step journey,
with some important milestones already achieved, and many
more to aspire to.