David Schwimmer claims child abuse is severely underestimated in the UK
DAVID SCHWIMMER has claimed that the UK is severely underestimating child abuse.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain today, the Friends star, who is supporting the NSPCC to set up child refugees in the UK, revealed that the issue is one that is "meaningful" to him.
"When all of us on the TV show [Friends] first became celebrities, we were all approached by these different charities," he recounted.
"'Will you come on board? Will you do this? Get involved, will you speak out?'" he mimicked.
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"I have several friends, men and women, who are victims of child sexual abuse. Especially as a father of a five-year-old daughter the entire subject matter is even more emotional and more meaningful to me," the American actor explained.
David, 49, claimed that figures of one in 20 may not be entirely accurate and even suggested that one in four girls and one in six boys could be a more realistic statistic.
"In the States our figures are very different and I feel are closer to the truth. In the States, it's one in four girls, and one in six boys [that are victims of abuse]," he added.
Good Morning - Friends star David Schwimmer claims UK is 'severely underestimating child abuse'
The Feed the Beast actor has been a long-time advocate for children's rights and is currently in the UK to take part in the NSPCC's annual How Safe conference.
David is supporting the ongoing fight for the emergence of more comprehensive Child Advocacy centres in Britain, which would allow children who have been abused to access all of the services needed in one place.
Speaking about how important his role is to the charity, he enthused: "That' the great benefit of celebrity, to use it to do this, communicate something more important, something bigger than oneself."
The philanthropic star is also the Director of The Rape Foundation Board in the US.
The foundation is committed to to supporting victims of rape and sexual abuse and encourages sufferers to stand up and speak out.
