This briefing the first in a series describing a programme of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which is intended to clarify why so many children in residential care in England and Wales are being criminalised at higher rates than their peers and identify examples of best practice to prevent their unnecessary criminalisation. 

This paper, based on findings from a consultative process with a variety of actors, captures a multitude of concrete recommendations for more efficient and harmonized policies and practices, taking into account the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in Europe. 

Anglicare’s "Too Hard? Highly Vulnerable Teens in Tasmania" report exposes extreme violence experienced by a cohort of young people aged 10-17, deemed by authorities "too hard" to place in care. 

Under England's new fostering to adopt legislation, birth mothers may find temporary foster care arrangements turn into permanent adoption, with limited access to free legal advice. 

In this exclusive interview with Christiane Amanpour of CNN International, J.K. Rowling discusses her inspiration for founding Lumos, the impact of institutionalisation on child development and attachment, and how orphanage volunteering and foreign donations are harming vulnerable children around the world. 

The approved Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Protection Bill 2017 by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights, which safeguards minors from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect in compliance with constitutional provisions and international obligations, is a step forward in the right direction - but student Hammad Asif expresses lingering concerns about reporting incidents of child abuse and neglect. 

A nine-year-old boy was returned to residential care after his foster family did not receive the additional psychological supports requested, revealing strain on social workers and lack of support for foster carers and children in care. 

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Aboriginal leaders to call an inqury on the treatment, experiences and outcomes of Innu children in the child protection system. 

This news article provides a report of the June 2017 Africa Expert Consultation on Violence against Children in All Care Settings, held in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The National Assembly's rights panel in Pakistan passed two bills to strengthen protective measures for children: The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Bill 2017, which ensures the protection and care of all children, including unattended orphans; and the Juvenile Justice System Bill 2017, which aims to make special provisions for the legal protection of children.