This paper proposes an expanded conceptual and normative framing of child protection systems to support more coherent, inclusive, and accountable approaches in both development and humanitarian contexts. The term normative framework refers to the shared rules, standards, and social values that guide how institutions should function and what they aim to achieve. The paper responds to persistent gaps in how child protection systems are defined. The analysis is situated within a wider global context in which child protection systems are under strain due to multiple global pressures.
Building on foundational work from 2010 and drawing on recent momentum from the 2024 Bogotá Call to Action and the Framework for Action, the paper describes what a child protection system is. It introduces a dual-axis normative framework that distinguishes between norms of operation and norms of intent.
The paper examines evolving expectations of system components, draws on benchmarking data from over 150 countries, and addresses persistent challenges. The last section proposes a working, field-tested definition of a child protection system to guide national planning, partner alignment, and systems-focused reform.
Clear definitions play a policy-like role in shaping implementation and resource flows, and inclusive and accountable systems are essential to upholding every child's right to protection.
