Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse includes all forms of physical and emotional mistreatment, sexual abuse, and neglect of a child’s basic needs, which results in actual or potential harm to a child’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Exploitation of children is also a form of abuse and includes trafficking for sexual or economic purposes, and recruitment of children into armed forces.

An abused child may experience many forms of mistreatment in any one incident or over time; for example, emotional harm is a pervading factor in all types of abuse. The abuser may be a family member, a stranger, another child, or someone responsible for a child's well-being, such as a teacher or caretaker.

Children in every society are vulnerable to abuse, gender based violence, and exploitation, however children without parental care and those in high risk environments such as conflict areas, refugee camps, on the street, or in institutions, are particularly exposed to violence, denial of their basic human rights, and deprivation. All abuse has its origins in power imbalance and therefore is typically associated with fear, secrecy, and control. This makes identifying and speaking out about abuse very difficult for children, family members, the community and social services, particularly when it is committed within the privacy of the home.

Child abuse can cause physical and psychosocial problems, including HIV/AIDS infection, and is particularly damaging when repeated over a period of time. Children may manifest abuse via destructive or withdrawn behaviours, developmental delays, injuries or other health problems. The effects of abuse will vary from child to child and depend on the source, type and extent of the abuse, the child’s developmental stage and their disposition or resilience.

The process of identifying and responding to abuse requires skilled interventions in order to prevent further harm to the child, and will typically include police, medical, psychological, and social services in order to address the safety, physical, and emotional needs of the affected children. Any care plan must be in the best interests of the child and protect them and their siblings from harm. This will include consideration of the additional risks of abuse that are present for children in institutions and care placements. Such closed environments are extremely susceptible to abuse since they are frequently isolated, insufficiently regulated, and lacking in adequate supervision and safe reporting procedures. It is the role of social services to screen and monitor all child placements, including institutional, kinship, and foster care, to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.

It is the responsibility of the whole community to protect its children. Education and community awareness for children and adults on the risks, signs of abuse, and responses is vital for children without parental care and those in high risk situations, such as during a conflict or displacement when sexual violence, exploitation, and recruitment into armed forces are prevalent.

The literature in this section describes the types of abuse in more detail, including gender based violence, and provides example child protection procedures, policy papers, and other intervention tools.

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ISS Ottawa Principles: For protecting children and parents subject to family violence in cross-border situations

International Social Service, 02 Mar 2026

This paper sets out guidelines on the specific challenges arising when domestic violence crosses international borders. It puts forth 15 core principles to guide states, courts and other professionals in better addressing cross-border family violence. It is intended to support implementation and encourage cooperation across jurisdictions and sectors in order to enhance the protection of children and families.

National Review of Parenting Programmes in Moldova through a Gender-Transformative Lens

UNICEF, 01 Mar 2026

In 2025, UNICEF and UNFPA conducted a national review of parenting programmes in Moldova to assess their role in addressing violence against children and women and to inform more effective, gender-transformative interventions. The study provides evidence to support the development of a Theory of Change and evaluation framework for strengthening prevention efforts.

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse at Scale: What it Takes

Spring Impact, 01 Mar 2026

Too often, child sexual abuse prevention is seen as too complex to scale – too sensitive, siloed, or difficult to measure. In the first study of its kind, Spring Impact reveals how 17 organisations are making scale work in the real-world: reaching more children, embedding prevention into public systems, and sustaining impact over time.

Residential Care Practitioners’ Knowledge, Training and Insights into Child Sexual Exploitation

Emma Rees, Ben Mathews, Conrad Townson, and Kausar Parvin, 23 Feb 2026

This study surveys residential care practitioners in Queensland, Australia to examine their training, knowledge, and perceptions related to child sexual exploitation (CSE) among young people in residential care. It finds significant gaps in both pre-service and in-service training and highlights practitioners’ strong demand for more education to improve identification and responses to CSE.

Is Alternative Care on the Violence Against Children Agenda? A Review of Pledges Made at the 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children

Justin Rogers, Aisling Ledwith, Florence Martin, Enrique Restoy, and Caroline Rose, 26 Jan 2026

In 2024, the 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children (VAC) brought together 103 governments to make formal commitments to prevent and respond to VAC. This review analyses the pledges announced at the time of the conference, while acknowledging that some governments may have subsequently refined or expanded their commitments, as noted in the limitations.

Child abuse and child protection policies in Kosovo

Arjeta Shaqiri Latifi, Adile Shaqiri, 26 Jan 2026

This article examines child abuse in Kosovo by analyzing policy gaps, risk factors, legal frameworks, and challenges in implementing child protection laws, drawing on interviews with senior Ministry of Justice officials and national data. It highlights a significant rise in child victimization between 2020 and 2022 and recommends legislative updates, institutional reforms, and the development of a national strategic document to strengthen child protection systems.

Institutional Representatives’ Perspectives on Violence and Child Abuse in Residential Child Protection Centers: A Document Analysis

Cristia´n Pinto-Cortez, Bele´n Ortega-Senet, Cristo´bal Guerra, et al., 2026

This qualitative study analyzes institutional narratives between 2002 and 2024 to understand how violence and child abuse have persisted in residential care centers in Chile, drawing on interviews and public statements from child protection authorities. The findings identify systemic deficiencies, structural problems, negligent practices, concealment, and sexual exploitation networks as key factors perpetuating abuse, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms, stronger oversight, and enhanced ethical and professional standards to safeguard the rights and well-being of children under state care.

The End of Violence: Eliminating the World's Most Dangerous Epidemic

Gary Slutkin, 2026

After working on infectious disease epidemics with the WHO, Dr. Slutkin developed the idea that violence spreads like a contagious disease and can therefore be prevented using similar interruption strategies. In this book he demonstrates that this public health approach can reduce many forms of violence, from community and domestic violence to broader conflict and even potential war.

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Child Protection in India: Assessing Multi-disciplinary Response Mechanisms

Paromita Chattoraj, 2026

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the institutional, legal, and social frameworks surrounding child protection in India. Anchored in a multidisciplinary approach, the book brings together insights from law, social work, psychology, education, and public policy to examine how various systems interact in addressing the issues related to protection of children from abuse, neglect, trafficking, and exploitation.

Latin America and Caribbean Regional Ministerial Consultation on Ending Violence Against Children and Adolescents Final Report

UNICEF and PAHO, 01 Dec 2025

This report summarizes a regional consultation convened by UNICEF and Pan American Health Organization to strengthen efforts to prevent and address violence against children in Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights existing evidence, policy frameworks, and good practices from participating countries to support more coordinated and effective responses to violence against children.