Reports of the alleged sexual abuse of young boys by former Pennsylvania State University coach, Gerald Sandusky, have been a source of pain for many. But that incident is only one of several painful abuses children around the world suffer.

There are daily reports of children being abused inside and outside the home, from malnutrition, verbal and physical abuse to sex-trafficking and sexual abuse. In addition, there are gut-wrenching reports of children mysteriously disappearing, either found dead or not at all.

As adults, we are charged with protecting all children, not just our own. But too many adults use their power to perpetrate vicious crimes against defenseless children. There is truth in the adage "it takes a village to raise a child." However, abuse is taking place inside this "village" and even when it's witnessed, as alleged in the Sandusky case, sometimes nothing or not enough is done and the abuse of children continues.

What can society do to stop this abuse? When so many adults are failing children, who are ultimately responsible? The resounding answer is – parents.

In too many cases, children are being raised by a single parent, usually the mother. Many homes are without two parents, making it very difficult for single parents to raise their children. But there is still no excuse for these children to be subjected to abuse.

Parents' primary role is to protect and pay close attention to their children. Close observation of a child's moods can tell if that child is hurting, depressed, unhappy or worried. Listening closely to a child can help to detect if something is wrong.

The demands of modern society sometimes make it necessary for parents to work longer hours from home, or be preoccupied with the challenges of providing for the family, so parents are not paying enough attention to the moods and behavior changes of their children.

Could parental observation have put a stop to Sandusky's alleged sexual abuse? While we place our children in the care of adults in leadership, parents have to be more vigilant. Abusers are less likely to target children whose parents are involved in their lives. Parents should also create a secure environment, so when faced with inappropriate behavior from adults, children feel free to speak.

Some people question why the parents of the Penn State victims didn't report the allegations earlier? One parent said she noticed her child had come home with his hair wet one evening and he told her he had been in the locker-room showers with the coach. That should have been reason to immediately report the coach to law enforcement authorities. Did the parents of the other victims not closely observe their sons and discern a problem? If they did, why didn't they raise an alarm?

Could it be that parents in modern society have placed too much trust in certain established organizations – the church, school, sport entities, the police - to protect their children? Perhaps, unconsciously, some parents blindly trust these organizations, believing a pastor, teacher, coach or a law enforcement officer would never hurt their child. In fact, it is not unusual for parents to turn to these so-called protectors for help when problems arise with their children.

Unfortunately, most of these organizations have hierarchical structures. A complaint against one member can be taken several levels above, where it's delayed or "mysteriously" disappears. Usually the complaint only reappears when the media exposes it to the public.

Because of their belief system, traditional organizations sometimes fail children. More emphasis must be placed on the perennial traditional unit – the family, particularly parents, even a single parent.

Ultimately, it is parents' responsibility to closely observe and listen to their children – save them from abuse in the home, from abusing themselves, and from the dangers of abuse from wider society.