Children worldwide suffer insidious forms of violence, exploitation and abuse. Violence against children knows no boundaries. It happens in every country, and in the places children should be most protected – their homes, schools and online. It can be physical, emotional or sexual. And in most cases, children experience violence at the hands of…, Explore topics in child protection, Four-year-old Mirjeta (name changed) holds her toys while getting ready to go out with her mother in Tirana, Albania, in June 2018. Mirjeta’s mother was physically and mentally abused by her husband, who became violent after discovering that she was pregnant with a girl. Violence against children, Violence against children can be physical, emotional or sexual. No forms of violence against children are justifiable. All forms are preventable. Learn more, A newly displaced woman walks with two children at a check point in Qayyara, south of Mosul, Iraq, in 2016. Child protection in humanitarian action, Armed conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies expose millions of girls and boys to unthinkable forms of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. Learn more, A girl, 5, stands in her home in Aroma Village, near the city of Kassala. Harmful practices, Harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation are discriminatory practices committed regularly over such long periods of time that societies begin to consider them acceptable. Learn more, A young girl in Amman, Jordan, sits among other children, smiling, in 2018. Strengthening child protection systems, Children may be cut off from vital social services and fair justice systems for countless reasons and at any time – including at birth. Learn more, Resources, UNICEF Humanitarian Practice: COVID-19 Technical Guidance Every Child is Protected from Violence and Exploitation: Global Annual Results Report 2019  and  UNICEF Goal Area 3 Overview 2019 Child Protection Data Child Protection Information Management System UNICEF in Emergencies Public Financing for Children and Child Protection Last updated 3…, UNICEF’s response, UNICEF works in more than 150 countries to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse. We partner with governments, businesses, civil-society organizations and communities to prevent all forms of violence against children and support survivors, including with mental health and psychosocial services. Our efforts strengthen child…

In the Middle East and North Africa, UNICEF action aims at strengthening formal and informal systems for GBV response, mitigation and prevention. The approach adopted is to ensure a continuum between unstable and stable environments, ranging from fragile and protracted crises to development. GBV interventions in humanitarian contexts are critical…

Guidelines to Strengthen the Social Service Workforce for Child Protection , developed in consultation with UNICEF headquarters and regional offices and the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance, are informed by evidence of what works in practice, and lessons learned in the field. They are designed to accelerate UNICEF programmes on…

HAVANA, Cuba, 18 January 2017, – Jorge had to move house four years ago. At the passing of his mother and without any other family member who could take care of him, he fell into the care of Cuba’s child protective services. Jorge has spent four years in a home for boys, girls and adolescents without family protection which, only months after leaving it, he describes as his own…

NEW YORK, 5 December 2016, – A powerful new film featuring UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham was released today to illustrate the brutal reality that physical and psychological abuse can mark children forever. During the new 60-second UNICEF film, scenes of violence against children appear as animated tattoos on David Beckham’s body. While Beckham’s own tattoos were…, Access UNICEF’s new film featuring David Beckham here:, https://youtu.be/XwMITfK8vhc, Other broadcast quality assets can be accessed here:, http://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AMZIF0QPZN, Note to Editor, Latest available statistics shows staggering levels of violence against children: • Every five minutes a child dies as a result of violence. • Approximately one in 10 girls under the age of 20, or 120 million girls worldwide, have experienced sexual violence. • Every year nearly a billion children – or 6 in 10 children globally - between the ages…

UNICEF is working with the government and partner organizations to support a foster family network throughout Haiti.    , LES CAYES, Haiti, 29 November 2016, – “I want to become a professor one day,” says Sabrina. The little girl is seven years old and has a smile that radiates from ear to ear. Full of energy, she lists her favourite topics at school – reading and maths – and her favourite movie – Walt Disney’s ‘Frozen’. Nothing in her sparkling demeanour hints at the shadows of her past. Marie-Denise…, >>,   Donate now to support UNICEF's Hurricane Matthew relief efforts in Haiti   

Eighteen-month-old Pretty did not get the best start in life. She was estimated to be only two weeks old when she was discovered in a pit latrine in Tanzania's Mbeya District Council. But with help from several units within the Government's child protection system, Pretty was placed in a 'fit family' and is now thriving.   , MBEYA, Tanzania, 18 July 2016, – The backyard in Christer and Juma Mabuza’s home in Muvwa village, Mbeya District Council, is the place where their family gathers to prepare dinner. While Juma lights a fire and Christer chops spinach from her vegetable garden, their six children play on makeshift drums with Pretty*, an 18-month-old child the Mabuzas are fostering. As a ‘fit…

PRISTINA, Kosovo (SCR 1244), – Gani Berisha wakes up at the crack of dawn and quietly puts on some clothes so as not to wake his family. The hands of the clock show it’s barely 6 a.m. as he steps outside and begins his commute to Pristina. He works at the same intersection almost every day. On some days he cleans the windows of cars passing by, hoping that he’ll get a few…

لا يكادُ يخلو أب أو أمّ من أحيان تمرّ عليهم يشعرون فيها بالإعياء والحيرة لمعرفة السّبيل الأمثل لتأديب طفلهم. فمن نافلة القول أنّ ضبط النّفس ليس بالأمر الهيّن سواءً أكنت تتعامل مع عويل طفل صغير أو مع مراهق غاضب. ولا يتمنّى أيّ والد أو والدة أن يجدا نفسيهما في مواقف كهذه، ومع ذلك فإن زبدة القول هي أنّ الصّراخ والعنف الجسدي غير مجديان. لكن لحسن الحظ…, ما هو سبب اختيار التأديب الإيجابي؟, تقول الأستاذة «كلوفر»: "لا يحبّذ الوالدان ضرب أطفالهما أو الصّراخ في وجههم، لكننا نفعل ذلك حين نشعر بالإجهاد ولا نرى أمامنا أيّ وسيلة أخرى". لكنّ البرهان ساطع: الصراخ والضرب بكلّ بساطة غير مجديان وقد يتسبّبان بأذى أكبر على المدى الطويل. وقد يؤثر الصراخ والضرب سلباً في حياة الطفل كلّها حتّى. كما قد يؤدي الجوّ النفسي السّامّ الذي يخلّفه هذا الأسلوب…, التعاطي مع الأطفال الصغار, إن اختلاءك بأطفالك أمر سيبعث المرح في نفسك، وهو علاوة على ذلك مجانيّ! وتضيف الأستاذة «كلوفر»: "بوسعك تقليدهم تقليداً فكاهياً، أو أن تضرب معهم على القدور (الطناجر) بالملاعق، أو أن تغنّوا سوية. هناك كمية مذهلة من الأبحاث التي تثبت أن لعبك مع أطفالك يساعد على نموّ أدمغتهم"., التعاطي مع الأطفال الأكبر سنّاً, كما هو الحال مع الأطفال الصغار، يحبّ المراهقون أيضاً الحصول على الثناء ويرغبون في أن تكون لهم الحظوة عند أهاليهم. ولذا فإن قضاء وقت منفرد معهم أمر مهمّ بالنسبة لهم أيضاً. تقول الأستاذة «كلوفر»: "يسعد المراهقون جداً حين ترقص معهم في الغرفة، أو حين تدخل معهم في حديث عن مطربهم المفضل. قد لا يظهرون ذلك لك دوماً، لكن هذه هي الحقيقة. وهذه الطريقة ناجحة…, نصائح للوالدين خلال فترة جائحة كوفيد-19, لقد أحدثت الجائحة تغييرات مفاجئة وجذرية في حياة العائلات تاركة الوالدين في وسط المعمعة. لذا فإليكم بعض النصائح التي يمكن أن تساعد الوالدين على تجاوز هذه الأوقات العصيبة وأية أوقات عصيبة أخرى: توقّف برهة كلنا يعلم حجم التوتر الذي نشعر به حين يغلّبنا أطفالنا. إنّ وعيك بما يجري من حولك في لحظات كهذه وتراجعك خطوة هو تكتيك بسيط ومفيد. اضغط على "زر…

Los consejeros de protección a la infancia en Venezuela trabajan incansablemente en la primera línea de respuesta durante la pandemia