As usual, well put CZ.
I would differ on one point. I don't believe anything but the second coming can change the fate of small ones in circumstances like these.
Unfortunately you are more than correct. Until the laws are changed, courts take more interest in the child's welfare than the parents rights, until social services challenges the parents and becomes the champion of the child, not much can be done to protect an abused child.
Abuse doesn't always show a physical mark on a child, but the damage the emotional abuse taken can be more damaging than the physical abuse.