Psychosocial Interventions for Edge of Care Families in the Early Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Paula S. Oliveira, Kyla Vaillancourt, et al.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for families with young children involved in child protection services. While the interventions improved parenting sensitivity, attachment, and parental functioning, evidence for reducing maltreatment risk remains limited, highlighting the need for larger, more consistent studies.

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The Overlooked Linkages between Public Health Emergencies and Child Protection in Eastern and Southern Africa

UNICEF

This technical brief examines how public health emergencies in Eastern and Southern Africa—such as polio, cholera, Ebola, Marburg, and mpox—disrupt protective environments and increase risks of violence, exploitation, and neglect for children, including those without parental care. Drawing on lessons from multiple countries, it highlights scalable approaches to embed child protection in health responses and calls for coordinated frameworks that ensure care continuity and resilience during future crises.

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A Qualitative Study on the Causes and Solutions of Street Children

Aminullah Fetrat and Abdulmusawer Zuhor

This study explores the social, economic, and familial factors contributing to the rise of street children in Pul-e-Khumri, Afghanistan, where poverty, unemployment, and family breakdown have deepened the crisis. By highlighting the severe individual and societal impacts, it calls for targeted policies—such as poverty reduction, job creation, and access to education—to address the root causes and protect vulnerable children.

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Legal Frameworks of Adoption in Pakistan: A Comparative Study of Child Welfare and Parental Rights

Kinza Malik & Dr. Tansif Ur Rehman

This paper examines the legal framework governing adoption in Pakistan, highlighting how Islamic principles and the Guardians and Wards Act of 1890 shape the balance between child welfare and parental rights. Through a comparative analysis with international standards, it identifies gaps in the current system and proposes reforms to better protect children’s best interests while respecting cultural and religious values.

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Strengthening Foster Care in Nigeria: Codifying the UN Guidelines on Alternative Care

Ejomafuvwe Taiga, Beauty O. Alloh and Peter. I Gasiokwu

This article provides a critical examination of the Child's Rights Act in Nigeria, with a focus on strengthening foster care through the codification of the United Nations (UN) Guidelines on Alternative Care. It analyzes the existing legal framework governing foster care in Nigeria, identifying gaps and limitations that hinder the effective protection and care of children living in foster care arrangements.

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Interventions to prevent, reduce, and respond to violence against children and adolescents: A systematic review of systematic reviews to update the INSPIRE Framework

Madison T Little, Alexander Butchart, Greta M Massetti, et al.

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.

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Exploring the Role of Stigma Management Communication in Reducing Stigmatization of Adoptive Parents: A Case of Kiambu County, Kenya

Bertha Lutome

This study explores how stigma management communication can reduce the stigmatization of adoptive parents in Kiambu County, Kenya, where cultural beliefs often privilege biological lineage over adoption. Findings reveal that adoptive parents use strategies such as concealment, disclosure, reframing, and advocacy to challenge stigma and gradually normalize adoption, highlighting the vital role of communication in transforming societal attitudes and promoting acceptance.

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Advancing child protection systems in Indonesia and Ethiopia: A comparative analysis of progress and challenges

Paul Vinod Khiatani, Wing Hong Chui, Dagim Dawit Gonsamo, et al.

This review compares child protection systems in Indonesia and Ethiopia using UNICEF’s Child Protection System Strengthening framework. Both countries have established solid legal frameworks and coordination mechanisms, but progress toward system maturity remains slow due to gaps in enforcement, accountability, and support services, with Indonesia showing stronger development in workforce and data systems.

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