This paper looks at the potential creation and use of children’s centres as a means to initiate and develop child protection services along with children’s participation. The centres are real physical spaces and periods of time that are owned and managed by children. The centres also act as hubs, that is, they provide focal points for coordination, training, and services for child protection through maintaining a network of multi- sector departments and agencies.
Following a short introduction and background note on the importance of developing child protection systems, some elements of the potential role and workings of centres and hubs are described. The paper aims to serve as stimulation for further development of existing work by agencies including Save the Children in China. It does not aim to provide a blueprint for any particular centre, but some general principles and actions that should underlie development. Each centre and hub needs to reflect local conditions, issues and circumstances where children’s rights, particularly to protection are unrealised.
©International Save the Children Alliance
