This article presents research from eight countries showing that many child–family separations are preventable, with children and young people identifying common drivers of separation rooted in unmet basic needs and broader socio-economic pressures. The study concludes that strengthening laws, policies, and access to essential services—guided by the lived experiences of children—can help keep families together and reduce reliance on alternative care.

A decade after the launch of WHO’s INSPIRE Framework, this systematic review updates the global evidence on what works to end violence against children. Analyzing 216 systematic reviews, it identifies the most effective interventions—including parenting programs, safe school environments, healthy relationship education, cash-plus life-skills training, and cognitive behavioural therapy—and underscores the urgent need to scale up these proven approaches worldwide.

This working paper by Joan Lombardi, senior advisor to the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, and Lauren Simmons provides a brief overview of the risks and potential of early childhood and the changing climate and showcases a dozen innovative approaches where early childhood and climate sectors have successfully converged.

This article reviews the political factors shaping orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) care systems in low-income countries, highlighting weak governance, limited political commitment, and heavy dependence on external actors. It introduces a social science–based framework of eight key factors—spanning policymaking, governance, and context—to guide research and strengthen OVC care systems.

This technical report, from WHO, describes the prevalence, risk factors for, and consequences of child corporal punishment, which it defines as “any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light”.

This scoping review examines how social workers decide to place children in residential care and how facilities are selected, drawing on 10 global studies analyzed through the Decision-Making Ecology framework. Findings reveal that decisions are often shaped by a child’s age, clinical needs, and professional discretion, but frequently lack structured assessments, consistent child involvement, and reliable information—pointing to the need for stronger collaboration and research to support more child-centred practices.

This article reviews research on how social workers decide to place children in residential care and how facilities are selected, highlighting the complexity and discretion involved in these decisions. It underscores the influence of factors such as children’s age, clinical needs, professional judgment, and limited information on facilities, while calling for more structured, child-centred approaches and stronger collaboration across services.

This paper critically examines the international child rights regime under the auspices of the United Nations, highlighting its historical foundations, key challenges, and the role of global institutions in safeguarding children’s rights. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the paper also offers recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness of child rights protections worldwide.

Child adoption remains a complex and sensitive issue within Islamic legal discourse, particularly due to its tension with Western legal frameworks that often permit full adoptive rights, including name changes and inheritance. This study addresses the central problem: how can Islamic law reconcile child protection needs with religious norms that prohibit altering a child’s lineage? The research aims to investigate how the concept of kafalah in Islamic jurisprudence serves as an alternative to formal adoption and how Muslim-majority countries navigate the duality between sharia and civil legal systems.

Child protection systems have traditionally emphasized remedial services over prevention, often relying on uniform care models that fail to account for children’s diverse needs. This study examines the child protection systems of countries representing various welfare models and comparatively evaluates the practices for disabled children in need of protection in these systems.