Child Protection Strategy

About

Child Protection is the prevention of, and response to, exploitation, abuse, neglect, harmful practices and violence against children. It is embedded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals. Child Protection is universal: it is for all children everywhere, from low- to high-income countries.

The vision of the UNICEF Child Protection Strategy is a world where all children are free from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices.

Over 1 billion children experience violence every year. The consequences of Child Protection violations are catastrophic, profound, enduring and often deadly for children. The economic costs of violence against children are estimated at $7 trillion per year. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified risks for children and reduced services to manage those risks.

The purpose of this Strategy is to provide a clear vision and strategic framework for UNICEF’s work in Child Protection for the decade to 2030 to meet this challenge. It calls upon every sector of society — not just governments — to work together and invest together to prevent violence against children.

Let’s put protection within reach of every child