Child protection (also called child welfare) is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It involves identifying signs of potential harm. This includes responding to allegations or suspicions of abuse, providing support and services to protect children, and holding those who have harmed them accountable. The primary goal of child protection is to ensure that all children are safe and free from harm or danger. Child protection also works to prevent future harm by creating policies and systems that identify and respond to risks before they lead to harm. In order to achieve these goals, research suggests that child protection services should be provided in a holistic way. This means taking into account the social, economic, cultural, psychological, and environmental factors that can contribute to the risk of harm for individual children and their families. Collaboration across sectors and disciplines to create a comprehensive system of support and safety for children is required. It is the responsibility of individuals, organizations, and governments to ensure that children are protected from harm and their rights are respected. This includes providing a safe environment for children to grow and develop, protecting them from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and ensuring they have access to education, healthcare, and resources to fulfill their basic needs. Child protection systems are a set of services, usually government-run, designed to protect children and young people who are underage and to encourage family stability.

UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...

defines a 'child protection system' as: Under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a 'child protection system' provides for the protection of children in and out of the home. One of the ways this can be enabled is through the provision of quality education, the fourth of the United Nations

Sustainable Development Goals The ''2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'', adopted by all United Nations (UN) members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of these global goals is "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" – wh ...

, in addition to other child protection systems. Some literature argues that child protection begins at conception; even how the conception took place can affect the child's development.

Safeguards against

Child labor

Child labor is the practice of having children engage in economic activity on a part-time or full-time basis. The practice is harmful to their physical and mental development. It is considered to be a form of exploitation and is illegal in many countries. Due to economic reasons, especially in poor countries, children are forced to work in order to survive. Child labor often happens in difficult conditions, which are dangerous and impairable to the education of future citizens, and increase vulnerability to adults. It is hard to know exactly the age and number of children who are affected. At least 152 million children under five years of age worked in 2016, but the figure is underestimated because domestic labor is not counted. The actual statistics cannot be counted exactly due to the many cases of child labor going unseen.

Endangerment

Child endangerment is the act of placing a child in a situation that neglects their health or life. Child endangerment can cause many negative physical and mental effects. This can stem from abusive parental care, child neglect, and a multitude of other reasons.

Infanticide (child murder)

Infanticide is the intentional killing of infants and young children. This practice has been documented throughout history and still occurs in certain cultures today, usually as a result of poverty and/or other social pressures. Infanticide can be carried out by parents, relatives, or strangers and is often seen as a form of gender-based violence, since female babies are more likely to be killed than male ones. In some cases, infanticide may also be used to conceal evidence of incest or rape. It is most commonly practiced in cultures where there is a preference for male children, or where resources are scarce. In some countries, children can be imprisoned for common crimes. In some countries, like Iran or China, criminals can even be sentenced to

capital punishment Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. The sentence (law), sentence ordering that an offender b ...

for crimes committed while they were children (the United States abandoned the practice in 2005). In contexts where military use of children is made, they also risk becoming prisoners of war. Other children are forced into

prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

, exploited by adults for illegal traffic in children, or endangered by poverty and hunger.

Infanticide Infanticide (or infant homicide) is the intentional killing of infants or offspring. Infanticide was a widespread practice throughout human history that was mainly used to dispose of unwanted children, its main purpose being the prevention of re ...

today continues at a much higher rate in areas of extremely high poverty and overpopulation, such as parts of China and India. Female infants, then and even now, are particularly vulnerable, which is a factor in sex-selective infanticide.

Child abuse

Many children who come to the attention of the child welfare system do so because of situations which are often referred to as

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical abuse, physical, child sexual abuse, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse, psychological maltreatment or Child neglect, neglect of a child, especially by a p ...

. Abuse typically involves abuse of power, or exercising power for an unintended purpose. This includes willful neglect, knowingly not exercising a power for the purpose for which it was intended. This is why child abuse is defined as taking advantage of a position of trust having been invested with powers. *

Physical abuse Physical abuse is any intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person or animal by way of bodily contact. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but adults can also be victims, as in cases of domestic violence or ...

is physical assault or battery on the child. Whilst an assault has some adverse consequence that the victim did not agree to (the difference between surgery and stabbing) the victim agrees to the consequences of battery but the agreement is fraudulent in some way (e.g. unnecessary surgery under false pretenses). Physical abuse is also harassment, a physical presence intended to provoke fear. *

Child sexual abuse Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in Human sexual activity, sexual activit ...

is sexual assault or battery on the child. The vast majority of physical assaults are a reaction to a situation involving a specific victim. Sexual assault is predominantly perpetrator gratification against any suitable target. Sexual abuse covers the range of direct and indirect assaults (e.g. imagery) and the means of facilitation such as stalking and internet offenses. * Child neglect is defined as failure to take adequate measures to safeguard a child from harm, and gross negligence in providing for a child's basic needs. Needs are the actions to be taken to protect and provide for the child. Safeguarding is the duty of a person given the powers of responsibility for the child to take the necessary measures to protect the child. If a child is physically or sexually abused, then there is an (abusive) person responsible for the assault and a (negligent) person responsible for failing to protect them from the assault. In some cases, they may be the same. *

Psychological abuse Psychological abuse, often known as emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another person to a behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including Anxiety disorder, anxiety, c ...

is when meeting the child's needs by taking the necessary steps to protect and provide for the child the child's wishes and feelings must be considered when deciding on delivery of the provision that best serves the child's needs. Willfully failing to provide in accordance with the child's wishes and feelings whilst it is in the child's best interests is emotional abuse (

intentional infliction of emotional distress Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED; sometimes called the tort of outrage) is a common law tort that allows individuals to recover for severe emotional distress caused by another individual who intentionally or recklessly inflicted ...

) or negligently is emotional neglect (

negligent infliction of emotional distress The tort of negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) is a controversial cause of action, which is available in nearly all U.S. states but is severely constrained and limited in the majority of them. The underlying concept is that one ...

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility is the legal obligation of a parent to provide for their child's physical, emotional, and financial needs. This includes providing food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care, and emotional support. It also includes protecting the child from harm and ensuring their safety. In 1984 the

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; , CdE) is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949, it is Europe's oldest intergovernmental organisation, represe ...

, the body that supervises the European Convention on Human Rights, made Recommendation R(84) 4 on Parental Responsibilities. These defined parental responsibility as a 'function' duties to be met and powers that can be exercised to meet those duties. Child abuse and neglect is failure by a person with parental or any other protective responsibility to exercise the powers for the intended purpose, which is the benefit of the child. Actions typically include services aimed at supporting at-risk families so they can remain intact to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, investigation of alleged child abuse and, if necessary, assuming parental responsibility by

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community or treatment centre), or private home of a state- certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent", or with a family mem ...

and

adoption Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, fro ...

services.

Child maltreatment

Child maltreatment refers to any type of harsh treatment or abuse which results in harm to a helpless child. Examples of child maltreatment include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, exploitation, deprivation and neglect. The long-term impact of abuse on victims often includes physical injury, psychological and behavioral harm, and can potentially be carried across generations. Caregiver maltreatment of children is a global problem that can occur in adoption programs, regardless of social status and in cases of discrimination and early or unwanted pregnancy. Adopted children may be mistreated more than biological children. Additionally, children may suffer maltreatment due to their social status, and discrimination based on skin color has also been documented as a factor in child maltreatment. Unwanted pregnancies can also increase tension in the household, potentially leading to the mistreatment of a child. Various services exist to address or prevent child maltreatment; these services can be provided by businesses or by government agencies. Where these services encounter cases of maltreatment, the state then creates a supportive family environment for the abused child. This entails the regulation of both public and private entities providing care for children and families. Child maltreatment can even occur in cases where state or other guardians take responsibility for a child's welfare.

Other

A 2014

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

survey on child protection systems listed the following categories of children needing help: * Child victims of bullying or cyber-bullying * Child victims of female genital mutilation or forced marriage * Child victims of neglect or abuse * Child victims of sexual abuse/exploitation * Child victims of trafficking * Children affected by custody disputes, including parental child abduction * Children belonging to minority ethnic groups, e.g. Roma * Children left behind (by parents who move to another EU country for work) * Children in a situation of migration * Children in judicial proceedings * Children in or at risk of poverty * Children in police custody or detention * Children of parents in prison or custody * Children with disabilities * Children without parental care/in alternative care * Children who are not in compulsory education or training or working children below the legal age for work * Missing children (e.g. runaways, abducted children, unaccompanied children going missing) * Unaccompanied children in a situation of migration

International treaties

The International Labor Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency dealing with labor issues, created in 1919. It takes care also of child labor issues, in particular with conventions 138 and 182. On 20 November 1959 the

United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its Seventy-ninth session of th ...

adopted a Declaration of the Rights of the Child during the

Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly abbreviated as the CRC or UNCRC) is an international international human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of ch ...

. The United Nations Children's Fund (

) is a United Nations Program headquartered in New York City, that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. In 2000, an agreement was reached among countries belonging to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

countries about the military use of children. The effectiveness of these programs is contested and seems limited to some.

Challenges

Child protection systems, particularly in Africa and other less developed regions, face significant structural and systemic challenges that prevent effective implementation. These include poverty, disease, conflict, weak institutional capacity, external influences, cultural norms, and emerging threats.

Poverty and Economic Constraints

Poverty is a major barrier to child protection, affecting both prevention programs and response mechanisms. Financial instability limits access to education, healthcare, and basic needs, often forcing kids into exploitative situations such as child labor, street life, and early marriage. In extreme cases, children engage in "survival sex" for food or money. The lack of income-generating opportunities for families exacerbates vulnerabilities, making systemic child protection efforts difficult to sustain in low-resource settings.

HIV/AIDS and Its Impact

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has also severely disrupted child protection structures, creating a generation of orphans and vulnerable children. In countries like Zimbabwe, for example, the epidemic has reversed gains in education and healthcare, overwhelming social welfare systems. Traditional community support mechanisms struggle to meet the needs of affected children, leading to increased risks of institutionalization, child labor, and early marriage.

War and Armed Conflict

Children in conflict zones face extreme risks, including violence, displacement, and psychological trauma. Modern warfare often targets civilian infrastructure, leaving children without family support, education, or healthcare. An estimated 10–20% of war-affected children develop psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) without intervention. Family disintegration and revenge fantasies among traumatized youth further complicate long-term recovery.

Weak Systems and Resource Shortages

Many countries lack the financial and human resources needed for functional child protection services. Legal frameworks may exist, but implementation is impaired by underfunded social services, leading to reliance on NGOs and charities. A "crisis discourse" often prioritizes emergency interventions over preventive measures, leaving systemic weaknesses ignored.

Dominance of External Child Protection Models

Child protection frameworks in much of the Global South are influenced by Western models, which emphasize statutory interventions and individual case management over community-based approaches. This "exported discourse" can marginalize indigenous practices and reinforce colonial legacies, sometimes creating mismatches between policy and local realities.

Cultural and Social Norms

Traditional attitudes sometimes perpetuate harm, such as treating domestic violence as a private matter or stigmatizing abuse victims. Some cultural practices, including forced marriages for pregnant girls, undermine legal protections.

Emerging Threats

New challenges, such as climate-induced disasters, digital exploitation, and the COVID-19 pandemic, have intensified risks for children. School closures during the pandemic led to spikes in child marriage and gender-based violence, while economic collapse pushed more children into street situations. Online abuse and trafficking have also risen with increased internet access. These intersecting challenges create a complex environment where child protection systems struggle to function effectively, often leaving vulnerable children without adequate safeguards.

History

Provincial or state governments' child protection legislation empowers the government department or agency to provide services in the area and to intervene in families where child abuse or other problems are suspected. The agency that manages these services has various names in different provinces and states, e.g., Department of Children's Services, Children's Aid, Department of Child and Family Services. There is some consistency in the nature of laws, though the application of the laws varies across the country. The

has addressed child abuse as a human rights issue, adding a section specifically to children in the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the Human rights, rights and freedoms of all human beings. Drafted by a UN Drafting of the Universal D ...

Child protection assessment

A key part of child protection work is assessment. A particular challenge arises where child protection professionals are assessing families where neglect is occurring. Professionals conducting assessments of families where neglect is taking place are said to sometimes make the following errors: * Failure to ask the right types of question, including ** Whether neglect is occurring? ** Why neglect is occurring? ** What the situation is like for the child? ** Whether improvement in the family are likely to be sustained? ** What needs to be done to ensure the long-term safety of the child?

References

External links

''A Report Card on Child Protection''
. (PDF-File, 991 KB) — United Nations Children's Fund: ''Progress for Children'', Number 8. September 2009. {{DEFAULTSORT:Child Protection Rights Protection Social programs Social work Children's rights