Addressing familial risk factors in the aftermath of child sex trafficking: Practitioner perspectives on family-centered interventions.

Research on technology-facilitated child sex offenders outside of forensic and clinical samples is scarce but necessary to inform prevention, early intervention, and investigation. This article describes and compares the demographic characteristics and internet use habits of technology-facilitated child sex offenders sourced from three quota-based samples comparable to the Australian (n = 1,945), U.S. (n = 1,473), and U.K. (n = 1,506) adult male population. The odds (99% CI) of technology-facilitated child sex offending, relative to non-offenders, were calculated for demographic factors (e.g. age, sexual orientation, and number of children in household), hours per day spent online, frequency of engagement in common online behaviours (e.g. sending emails, online messaging, and private video chatting), use of social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat), online pornography viewership, and use of privacy software (e.g. The Onion Router [TOR], Telegram, and Element). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, educational attainment, household income, and residential location were conducted separately for each sample, with effect sizes formally compared between countries. The study identified significantly higher rates of technology-facilitated offending against children in the United States (10.9%) compared to Australia (7.5%) and United Kingdom (7.0%). Online offenders were between 2 and 3.7 times more likely to work with children and, depending on the jurisdiction, were significantly more likely to be employed, married/living with a partner, have a bachelor's degree or higher, and live with a child. Across all jurisdictions, technology-facilitated offenders were significantly more sexually active online, including paying for sexual services and content, visiting romance and dating websites, and viewing violent or animal pornography. The article considers the implications of these findings for prevention, early intervention, and more effective detection of technology-facilitated offending, including the role of internet regulation and the financial sector in online child protection.

First Nations families' maternity care experiences in the Australian Capital Territory: Kapati Time Yarning, intergenerational trauma and the case for Birthing with Country.

Determinants of PTSD symptom severity in child victims of violence in southern Algeria: A forensic cross-sectional study.

• Colonialism has shaped the use of physical discipline for some Black parents • Zero-tolerance positions for physical discipline were arbitrarily employed. • Black families are being reported for the threat of physical discipline by schools. • Black families should be supported rather than being reported as an intervention. Referrals from educational settings account for a large proportion of chid maltreatment reports internationally and across North America. In Canada, research has documented distinct disparities in the referral patterns for Black families from schools focusing on concerns about physical abuse. Although schools are more likely to report allegations of child abuse to child welfare agencies than other referral sources in Ontario, some research indicates that cases alleged by educators are significantly less likely to be substantiated compared to other professionals. Given that physical abuse allegations are the main referral reason for Black families in Ontario’s child welfare systems and there is a lack of research exploring the concerns that shape these reports of alleged abuse, this study will fill this gap in knowledge. Using interpretative phenomenology as a methodological approach, the objective of this study is to explore child welfare professionals’ experiences working with Black families who have been referred to Ontario’s child welfare systems for allegations of physical abuse. Fifty-one individual semi-structured interviews and four focus groups (n = 28) were conducted with child welfare professionals for a total of 79 participants. The findings revealed that colonialism, transnationalism, culture, and parental values contribute to the acceptability of physical discipline for some Black families. Study findings indicated there are many circumstances where Black families are being reported for threats of physical discipline rather than the actual occurrence. As such, child welfare agencies have begun to consider how to support Black families and critically assess reports from schools. Recommendations and implications for policy, research, and practice are discussed.

Social work with LGBTQIA+ youth from the perspective of child protection professionals in France and Italy

ABSTRACT England’s children’s social work workforce is in a state of crisis, characterised by record vacancy and agency rates. However, research exploring the factors underpinning this has focussed on current practitioners’ ‘intention to leave’ practice, and there has been a dearth of enquiry that has considered former practitioners’ reasons for leaving social work roles. This remains a critical omission when we consider that former workers provide unique root cause insight in a way that perhaps current workers are not able to. This study considers the experiences of 72 of England’s former child protection social workers through the lens of Job Embeddedness theory. Adopting an iterative mixed method design, the study considered participants’ reasons for leaving child protection work, and the circumstances that might convince them to return. Participants highlighted issues with salary, caseloads, bureaucracy, unpaid overtime and agile working arrangements as factors that had informed their decision to leave child protection. Implications include the need to reform local authority pay scales, prioritise time with children, offer paid overtime and provide fixed office spaces to enhance the social, psychological and financial bond between workers and the child protection role – with associated positive implications for recruitment and retention within England’s child protection workforce.

ABSTRACT This article provides a comprehensive overview of the global peer-reviewed research literature on the involvement of parents with disabilities in child protection. Using a systematic scoping review methodology that initially retrieved 10,471 articles, we identified 135 peer-reviewed articles. We charted the articles based on publication year, location of study, discipline, type of parental disability, methods, aspect of child protection, and whose voice was centered in the study. We found a sharp global and cross-disciplinary increase in articles on this topic since 2010, with studies conducted in 17 countries and published in journals related to disability, child welfare, social work, mental health, and health. The majority focus on parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities or mental health disabilities. The most common areas of inquiry were the prevalence of child protection involvement and out-of-home care. Less common were articles about child protection processes, such as reporting, assessment, substantiation, services, case disposition, court processes, recurrence, and intervention. Most of the data used in the studies came from professionals’ perspectives. Our study highlights significant gaps in the research and underscores the need for new directions in this field.

ABSTRACT The recent era of multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operations involved in protection of civilians, child protection, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda has seen the emergence of community engagement as a key practice enabling operational effectiveness. The importance of gender, and particularly the involvement of women peacekeepers, is a central element of community engagement and has been advanced as a major justification for increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping. This discourse highlights the need to have women peacekeepers to better engage with children in the host community, raising the question of how community engagement practices depend on and are productive of the subject positioning of women peacekeepers. Drawing on analysis of peacekeeping policy, training, and communication documents, and interviews with military, civilian, and police peacekeepers from UN missions, I argue that discourses of community engagement construct the woman peacekeeper in a triadic relationship, differentiated from both men peacekeepers who are ill-suited to engaging with children and potentially pose a threat to them, and from children who are understood as primarily vulnerable and lacking meaningful agency. Peacekeepers’ experiences of conducting community engagement, and recent shifts towards emphasizing gender balance and training in engagement, disrupt this discourse and indicate the potential to challenge current gendered and age-based power relations in peacekeeping.

ABSTRACT Armed conflicts are accompanied by serious violations of children’s rights and legitimate interests, significantly increasing their vulnerability. Although international standards and national legal frameworks assign states the primary responsibility for protecting children from war-related violence, effective protection requires continuous coordination and adaptation to rapidly changing conditions. The aim of this study is to analyse international legal instruments and national legislation governing the protection of children during armed conflict, to assess their effectiveness in Ukraine, and to evaluate their compliance with international standards. The research employs methods of legal analysis, synthesis, deduction, and systematic evaluation of normative acts and enforcement mechanisms. The findings indicate that, despite the existence of comprehensive international norms and their partial incorporation into national law, significant gaps remain in implementation, coordination, and practical enforcement under wartime conditions. The study concludes that strengthening institutional cooperation, clarifying legal procedures, and improving national protective mechanisms are essential for ensuring effective child protection during armed conflict.

Child protection in Tanzania reveals a clear gap between law and lived experience. While the country has established strong legal and policy frameworks, including the Law of the Child Act and recent national action plans, violence against children remains widespread and frequently unresolved. Many cases are handled informally through silence, stigma, or private settlements, leaving children without adequate protection or justice. This paper explores why legal progress has not translated into everyday safety for children. Drawing on national surveys, academic studies, and programme evaluations, the analysis applies four perspectives: a rights-based approach, the social-ecological model, community engagement, and hybrid protection systems. Together, these lenses show that laws create an important foundation but are undermined by deeply rooted social norms that accept corporal punishment, fear of reporting abuse, and limited capacity within schools and child-protection institutions. Community-based responses, such as para-social workers, help bring support closer to families and can improve access to services. However, weak oversight sometimes allows harmful practices or outdated norms to persist. Hybrid systems that connect formal legal structures with community networks offer the most promise, yet their long-term impact is uncertain because they rely heavily on donor funding rather than sustained government investment. The study concludes that protecting children in Tanzania requires moving beyond written laws. Real change depends on embedding protection into daily life through reliable local funding, culturally sensitive implementation, confidential reporting mechanisms, and the permanent inclusion of hybrid child-protection systems in national budgets.

This article examines the integration of digital forensics, archival theory, and technology, focusing on the management, preservation, and authenticity of digital documents. It draws on Buckland and Rondinelli’s concept of information-as-thing to discuss how data, texts, documents, objects, and events can be treated as digital evidence, considering aspects of authenticity, reliability, and trustworthiness. The study addresses practical challenges in digital forensics, such as rapid technological evolution, format diversity, digital vulnerabilities (ransomware, deepfakes, and the use of Artificial Intelligence in content manipulation and detection), and the complexity of collecting and preserving evidence across devices and cloud-based platforms. It highlights models such as Digital Records Forensics (DRF) and the Preservation Chain (CoP), which combine archival science, law, and digital forensics to ensure the integrity and legal validity of digital records. Brazilian legislation on cybercrimes—including the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet, the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), the Carolina Dieckmann Law, and regulations related to electronic fraud, crypto-assets, and the protection of children and adolescents—is presented, emphasizing its relevance to forensic practice. Institutional initiatives, such as the Chegando Junto Project and the work of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Minas Gerais (MPMG), illustrate the importance of public policies and educational actions to prevent digital fraud, in partnership with international organizations such as the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA). As this is a conceptual and exploratory study, its conclusions lack empirical generalizability, indicating the need for future research on the practical application of the DRF/CoP model. The article concludes that integrating archival science, digital forensics, and technology—combined with continuous professional development and institutional action—is essential to ensure the trustworthiness of digital evidence, strengthen the social role of institutions, and protect society against emerging cyber threats. Key words: digital forensics; archival science; cybersecurity; public policies; digital evidence.

Abstract Stable environments that support health, nutrition, protection, learning, and responsive relationships are essential for child development. However, international migration disrupts family relationships, access to services, and parental well-being, leaving many children’s needs unmet. This study investigates parental perceptions regarding the needs of children aged six years or younger from international migrant families residing in a Brazilian border region. It further examines the extent to which these needs are fulfilled within the distinct socio-political and economic context of the region. A phenomenological qualitative approach with inductive thematic analysis was conducted with 21 primary caregivers. Findings revealed that children’s needs centered on nutrition, education, healthcare, supportive communities, structure, opportunities, and safety, rather than relational aspects of development. Two themes were identified: (1) Challenges in the migration process and adaptation: implications on child protection and opportunities for thriving, and (2) Obstacles and stress experienced by immigrant families compromising nurturing care and support for early childhood development. Brazilian policies establish access to essential supports but do not fully address children’s developmental needs. International migrant families prioritized nutrition, healthcare, education, and safety; however, adversities such as socioeconomic vulnerability, separation, discrimination, limited support, and parental stress left many needs unmet. Policy guidelines and professional actions must therefore extend beyond basic provision in health, education, and social protection to ensure children’s needs for responsive caregiving, emotionally supportive relationships, and stimulating activities and interactions are adequately met.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes recurrent infections throughout life. Yet, the form and durability of antibody-mediated protection induced by infection remained poorly understood. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study in Taizhou City, China. Participant age distribution approximately reflected the age structure of population in Taizhou. Blood samples were collected at baseline (March 12, 2023) and four follow-up visits (May 7-26, 2023, August 13-23, 2023, November 12, 2023, and June 2-3, 2024). Serum-specific RSV pre-fusion F (PreF) protein antibody titres were measured for all samples, and neutralising antibodies against RSV strain A2 and RSV strain B were assessed in a subset. Using a Bayesian inference framework and reversible-jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo, we recovered individual infection histories, estimated population-level RSV incidence, and characterised antibody dynamics from longitudinal PreF titres. We also estimated the correlates of protection (COP) by quantifying the relationship between PreF antibody titres and infection risk. A total of 508 individuals were included. Over the study period, two RSV epidemic waves were observed: the first wave between May and November 2023 and the second from February to May 2024. We estimated seasonal RSV infection rates of 4-7% in the community-based population. Post-infection immunity responses were most robust in young children ≤ 5years and weakest in adults ≥ 75years, with peak fold rises in antibody titres of 29.4 and 5.4, respectively. The post-infection antibody titres declined substantially, with fourfold rises sustained for an average of 128days (95% credible interval of 21-281). The probability of protection given exposure increased with higher PreF titres across all age groups. However, the predictive performance of PreF titres as a COP varied markedly by age: titres strongly predicted protection in young children but showed weaker discrimination in older children and adults, and minimal predictive value in the oldest adults. These results revealed age-related differences in the durability and protective value of natural infection-elicited RSV PreF antibody responses, emphasising the importance of age-specific prevention strategies.

Child Care Institutions (CCIs) play a critical role in safeguarding vulnerable children and contributing to broader social development outcomes, particularly in conflict-sensitive and geographically challenging regions like Manipur. Established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, CCIs are mandated to provide care, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration services. This study presents an institutional analysis of CCIs in Manipur, examining governance structures, service delivery mechanisms, and their contribution to social development indicators such as education, protection, and social stability. Based on secondary data from government reports, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) inspections, UNICEF studies, and state-level documents, the study finds that while CCIs significantly reduce child vulnerability and homelessness, gaps in monitoring, funding, infrastructure, and psychosocial support limit their developmental impact. Strengthened governance and integrated policy approaches are essential for enhancing long-term social outcomes.

ABSTRACT Globally, a substantial number of children experience various forms of parental maltreatment. Child protection agencies work to support these children and prevent further abuse or neglect, often through targeted interventions directed at the parents. Previous research has indicated that social workers may approach male and female perpetrators of maltreatment differently once a case is reported. To explore this further, focus group interviews were conducted to examine how Swedish social workers discuss and identify potential differences in how they approach female versus male perpetrators of maltreatment. Twenty social workers involved in assessing or delivering interventions in child maltreatment cases across three municipalities participated in one of the four focus group interviews. Through content analysis, three key themes emerged from the discussions: the conceptions of gender, approaching females versus males differently, and to deal with gender. Participants noted that they often adhered to traditional gender norms, placing higher expectations and more responsibility on mothers than fathers. Social workers were typically more supportive of fathers taking on parenting responsibilities while expecting mothers to be equally engaged without additional encouragement. The research invitation itself was viewed as an eye-opener for participants, revealing that traditional gender roles frequently influence child protection work, even though social workers generally uphold gender equality in other areas of their lives. These findings highlight the need for greater awareness among social workers and encourage the adoption of a more egalitarian view of parenting in their work with families. Additionally, the findings emphasize the importance of addressing and preventing gender stereotypes in social work with maltreated children and their parents, particularly through supervision and quality improvement efforts. This focus should also be integrated early into social work study programs at the university or training programs for professionals.

The study aimed at exploring sexual victimization as a challenge faced by street children. To get clear understanding of the study, different literature was consulted, including sociological study to help in understanding street children, child protection and abuse literature to understand violence and abuse, human rights and legal literature to highlight child right and final Routine Activity Theory which explains why crimes happen in everyday life. The study employed qualitative approach in which 30 participants were obtained through purposive sampling and snowball technique. Data collection methods included focused group discussion, in depth interview and documentary review. Data were analysis through thematic analysis procedures. NVIVO version 16 was used to analyze data obtained from the field. The finding revealed different form of sexual victimization faced by street children including rape, transectional sex, commercial sex and sexual harassment. On the other hand the study explored the nature of commercial sex among street children including coercive commercial sex and survival based commercial sex. The study recommended for policies strengthening, support service improvement and preventive measures against children sexual abuse.

Reversing Gender Gap in Schooling and Child Protection: Addressing Boy Vulnerabilities in Tanzania

Economic exploitation of children remains a serious problem occurring in many countries, including Indonesia and Thailand. Such exploitative practices not only violate children's human rights but also have negative impacts on their physical, mental and social development. This study aims to analyze the legal regulations and the effectiveness of legal protection for child victims of economic exploitation in Indonesia and Thailand, as well as to identify obstacles in their implementation. The research method employed is normative legal research using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. Data were obtained through library research on national legislation, international legal instruments, and relevant legal literature. The findings indicate that Indonesia and Thailand have established legal frameworks governing the protection of children from economic exploitation, both through national legislation and the ratification of international instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and ILO Conventions. However, the effectiveness of legal protection implementation in both countries still faces various challenges, including weak law enforcement, lack of inter-agency coordination, social stigma against victims, and socio-economic factors that contribute to child exploitation. Therefore, strengthening legal substance, enhancing the capacity of law enforcement officials, consistently applying a restorative justice approach, and increasing active community participation are necessary to achieve more effective and sustainable legal protection for child victims of economic exploitation.

Forensic significance of the victim’s personality in proceedings on child trafficking in the context of armed conflict. The article examines the forensic significance of the victim in criminal proceedings concerning child trafficking in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The author emphasizes that the victim is a key element in both the criminal-law and forensic characterization of the crime, as their social, psychological, age-related, and material characteristics determine the mechanism of the offense, the perpetrator’s motives, the selection of the victim, and the formulation of effective investigative hypotheses. The article analyzes the legal definition of the victim according to Part 1, Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and international standards, including the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. Distinctions between the criminal-law, criminal-procedural, and forensic approaches to understanding the victim are examined, as well as the specifics of procedural status and the emergence of the rights and duties of the victim. Special attention is given to children as the most vulnerable category of victims, considering their age, social, and legal characteristics, as well as the specifics of abduction, exploitation, and trafficking under wartime conditions. Analysis of criminal proceedings indicates that entries in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations concerning child trafficking are mostly related to sexual and labor exploitation. The study highlights the high level of latent crimes, the transnational nature of illegal child transfers, the use of complex exploitation schemes, and digital technologies for coordinating criminal activity. It is concluded that effective investigation of these offenses requires a comprehensive approach that combines forensic methods with international legal mechanisms, inter-agency coordination, and specialized measures for child protection. The results of the study may be applied in criminological and forensic research, law enforcement practice, and legislative regulation in combating human and child trafficking.