Child Protection Policy
Child Protection
All children have the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse. Yet, millions of children worldwide from all socio-economic backgrounds, across all ages, religions and cultures are exposed to various forms of violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking, child labour, cyberbullying and child marriage. The prevention and response to violence, exploitation and abuse cuts across the life cycle of the child. Child protection is a critical part of reaching the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that children grow up in a safe and supportive environment.
We work with Government and civil society to renew and strengthen laws, policies, services and practices that protect children from violence in the home, at school, in their communities, online and as a result of conflict and natural disasters. We are working to ensure that children can safely enjoy the digital world, including online gaming. We also work to end corporal punishment, child marriage and FGM, among other key areas.
Growing Up in a Connected World
Produced by the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and based on research by Global Kids Online, Growing up in a Connected World compares data on internet use among nearly 15,000 internet-using children in 11 countries across Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. It finds that the activities children engage in online – even those typically seen as entertainment – are crucial for building digital skills.
The State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a Digital World
As the debate about whether the internet is safe for children rages, The State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a Digital World discusses how digital access can be a game changer for children or yet another dividing line. The report represents the first comprehensive look from UNICEF at the different ways digital technology is affecting children, identifying dangers as well as opportunities. It makes a clear call to governments, the digital technology sector and telecom industries to level the digital playing field for children by creating policies, practices and products that can help children harness digital opportunities and protect them from harm.