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Child Protection

All forms of child abuse are human rights violations and yet are preventable in the majority of instances. ChildHope believes that all organisations that work directly or indirectly with children should fulfill their duty of care by having effective child protection policies and procedures to prevent child abuse in all its forms.

Child protection has to be combined with participation to avoid children being treated as if they were passive victims. Participation means more than merely involvement or consultation; it enables children to gain more control over their own development.

Children are vulnerable to abuse because of their lack of economic, social, political and legal rights and power. Children are often dependent upon the people who abuse them, whether they are family members, legal guardians, peers, privately run institutions, non-government organisations (NGOs) or governments. Child abuse is defined by the World Health Organisation as, ‘all forms of physical and/or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.’

Protecting children from abuse increases their chances of growing up healthy and confident, and augments their capacity to achieve well being and realise their potential. Organisations without child protection policies, guidelines and systems are more vulnerable to false or malicious accusations of abuse. The transparency and good governance implicit in child protection increases both an organisation’s efficacy and credibility.

ChildHope has designed a Child Protection Toolkit to help organisations to develop, implement and monitor their own Child Protection Policies and procedures. It is now available in a number of languages. For more information and to download the toolkit.

PowerPoint presentation files to accompany the toolkit are also available. For more information contact Elanor Jackson.

ChildHope is a member of the steering committee of the Keeping Children Safe Coalition.

“Not The Whole Story”

Press Release
27th May 2008

Response to Save the Children Report ‘No One to Turn To’