44,000 cases of child abuse reported in Israel in 2015

Israeli authorities received some 44,000 complaints of physical, sexual and emotional harm to children last year, according to a report published Thursday by the Welfare and Social Services Ministry.

Around one-quarter of the reports were about physical abuse and 11 percent referred to sexual abuse.

One-third of complaints neglect.

One out of every five suspected victims had special needs, the report said.

Of these, three-quarters suffered from mental or emotional difficulties, and 11% were categorized as being of limited intelligence, Arutz Sheva reported.

Three out of four suspected perpetrators were family members, the report said.

Around 1,700 children were removed from their homes by court orders, while in 1,300 cases, the courts ordered that the minors stay at home, but under social workers’ supervision.