Background

Children have an absolute right to be safe. Yet girls and boys in every country, in every culture and at every social level face forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. These violations include sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating punishment, harmful traditional practices (including early marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting) and recruitment into armed forces and groups.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), other human rights conventions, treaties, and national laws, governments have a legal obligation to protect children. But all adults share a responsibility to do so. Parents are primarily responsible for the upbringing and development of their children and, together with their family and community, have a key role to play in protecting them.

The Child Protection Initative (CPI)

In May 2009, Save the Children launched the Global Child Protection Initiative to strengthen children’s right to be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence.

By 2015, we aim to have improved the lives of 21 million children through preventative and remedial child protection measures.

Initially, the Child Protection Initiative focuses on:

Children without appropriate care: including neglected and/or abused children in their families, children in institutions or other forms of alternative care, and children on the move, including child refugees, child migrants and trafficked children

Child protection in emergencies: including sexual violence, children associated with armed forces and groups, and family separation.

Child labour: strategy to be developed in 2011/2012.

Corporal Punishment: strategy to be developed in 2012.