Child Protection
Every child deserves to live, grow and thrive. Yet every year, more than 1 billon children around the world experience violence that steals their dignity, their futures, and too often, their lives1.
Children caught in conflict face many dangers, becoming refugees in unfamiliar land, getting separated from their families and growing up not knowing what it is like to be a child.
Millions of others are denied the chance to go to school and reach their full potential. Young boys are forced into often dangerous hard labour, while young girls face sexual assault, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation and child marriage.
This violence threatens the survival, health and education of children. It erodes a country’s human and social capital and tears at the fabric of society.
1 UNICEF 2021
Key Challenges
Millions of children around the world are trapped by violence, conflict, child labour, child marriage and child trafficking. These traumatic events rob children of their childhoods, future and potential.
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Child Labour For the first time in two decades, the number of children involved in child labour rose to 160 million at the beginning of 2020, with 9 million more children at risk due to the impact of COVID-19. This accounts for nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. Almost half of them are in hazardous work that risks their health and development1. |
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Child Violence 1 in 2 children or 1 billion children suffer some form of violence each year1. |
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Child Marriage Before COVID-19 hit, more than 100 million girls were expected to be married before they turned 18 in the next decade. Now, up to 10 million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides as a result of the pandemic1. |
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Child Refugees Nearly 1 in 3 children living outside their country of birth are refugees1. |
World Vision’s Work in Child Protection
Children need a safe and secure environment to grow up well.
Safeguarding children and their well-being lie at the heart of all that we do at World Vision.
A holistic approach that empowers families and communities to protect children from harm is essential. We engage with all those who have a responsibility to protect children, from parents, faith communities and care providers to local and government officials.
Our interventions focus on improving laws and accountability, increasing social services and support, catalysing behaviour and attitude change, and strengthening child resilience.
We protect:
Children in Crisis: Helping the Most Vulnerable Children Survive, Recover and Build a Future
- We go to places others cannot reach, meeting urgent needs and staying to find solutions. Your gift can help children survive in the world’s most dangerous places.
Children in the Cities: Helping to Create Just Cities for All Children
- People and poverty are moving to cities at a scale and speed that poses serious risks and challenges to the well-being of children. Your gift can help children have access to basic needs and be protected from street violence.
Children of Climate Change: Helping to Create a Sustainable World for Our Children
- The world’s poorest have contributed very little to climate change yet are often the most exposed to its devastating impacts. Your gift can help create a more sustainable world for our children.
Children in Crisis
"Having clean water is the biggest blessing. Suha is so happy whenever she washes her hands with soap. With clean water available, even the taste of our crops has changed."
Essa*, 37, Syrian father referring to his 2-year-old daughter
*name has been changed to protect his privacy
Children in the Cities
"My mother lost her job because of the pandemic. I was unable to pay my college fees. My mother had earlier borrowed money from friends. I was about to drop out of my Bachelor of Commerce programme when World Vision came to the rescue. I am so grateful for the chance to continue my studies and take my exams."
Evangeline, a 2nd-year university student from a poor area in Chennai, India
Children of Climate Change
"I will care for the seedlings as forests improve the fertility of our soil and increases ground water that develops into spring water."
Feyisa Haiyu, farmer from Ethiopia
Protect children from violence by ensuring they have safe and stable environments to grow in.
