Standing up against child abuse has never been so loud.

Mayor David Miller was at the Eaton Centre yesterday to present the fifth annual Stand up for Kids Award to Michael Irving, a Toronto-based sculptor and psychotherapist who built a monument in honour of child abuse survivors.

Miller also competed in the Use Your Voice Challenge to see who had the biggest voice in the fight against the cause.

"Witnessing, and having experienced child abuse is what motivated me," said Irving who's been working on the sculpture for the past 12 years.

The monument consists of bronze figures covered with a sculptural quilt of almost 200 survivors' hand prints.

"I wanted to do something that can make a purpose out of the suffering that I've seen," Irving said.

The Stand up for Kids Award is sponsored by the Catholic Children's Aid Society, the Jewish Family and Child Service and the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, all of whom investigated almost 5,000 suspected child abuse cases over the past year.

"We all know that the children in Toronto are our future," Miller said. "I'm here today to urge Torontonians to not just keep alert for signs of abuse, but to speak up and speak out for children who suffer from abuse."

The events not only helped to raise awareness, as competitors shouted slogans against abuse, but also marked the start of Child Abuse Prevention month.

"Use your voice to give a voice to those who don't have one and by doing that we can end the cycle of abuse," Miller said.