Child Protection Issues Research Articles

Beyond “Dead Words”: Enhancing Documentation Practices for Domestic Violence-Informed Work

Abstract Purpose Domestic violence-informed documentation practices across health and human services were explored as an aspect of a wider action research project in New South Wales, Australia. In health and human service responses to families living at the intersection of domestic violence, substance misuse and mental ill-health, practitioners navigate the complexities of collaborative and integrated work to address violence and abuse. Documentation is an aspect of practice where ethical, quality and safety issues arise, impacting individuals, organizations, and service sectors. Methods Senior practitioners from specialist domestic violence, substance use, mental health and child protection services participated in a series of Communities of Practice to explore integrated and collaborative practice using the Safe & Together™ Model approach to working with families impacted by domestic violence and abuse. Documentary practices were explored as an important aspect of the wider research project, and ethnographic notes from Community of Practice and reflective focus groups were thematically analyzed. Results Four key themes regarding domestic violence-informed documentation practices were highlighted in the analysis: recognizing the power of documentation; maintaining an all-of-family focus; focussing on patterns and context; and the importance of language that emphasizes behavioral specificity. Taken together, these themes speak to the powerful role played by domestic violence-informed documentation for clients accessing services, as well as to the opportunity for practice-changing work through documentation that diverse practitioners can take up when working with families and with each other. Conclusion This paper contributes to a growing body of practice-led knowledge building and provides an in-depth examination of domestic violence-informed documentation practices from the perspectives of practitioners working at the intersections of domestic violence, substance use, mental health and child protection issues across health and human services. It highlights the complex and empowering opportunities that attention to language and documentation holds and emphasizes the need for further research exploration and capacity building for domestic violence-informed practice.

The intersection of child protection and healthcare: Paediatric social admissions

AbstractObjectivesIn the context of a national shortage of specialist placements for children with complex needs in Ireland, this study examines the impact of healthcare professionals' management of paediatric social admissions (PSAs) in paediatric hospital settings, with particular attention to the child protection and welfare challenges encountered.Design and ParticipantsA qualitative research design was utilised, employing semistructured interviews with healthcare professionals as the primary data collection method.FindingsThematic analysis of the interviews identified three principal themes: the spectrum of social admissions, influences and barriers, and the moral imperative of managing PSAs. The study found that social factors significantly influence the management and decision‐making processes in paediatric cases, often resulting in prolonged hospital stays. The findings highlight complex child protection issues, including severe shortages in specialist placements and the frequent discharge of children to environments other than their homes.ConclusionsThe children involved in this study often remained in acute care settings for protracted periods, ranging from 6 months to several years. These extended stays deprived them of normal routines, education, and family life, underscoring substantial child protection concerns. This study calls for urgent systemic improvements to address these issues and ensure that the rights and well‐being of children involved with PSAs are upheld.

Responding to radicalisation and extremism risks for youth: An emerging child protection and youth justice practice issue in Aotearoa

Practice note

Laws and Issues in Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation: A Case Study in Thailand

Today, violations of children’s rights have become more intense and have taken on new forms. Child protection laws provide a legal framework designed to shield children from harm and abuse, especially sexual abuse. These laws define the rights and responsibilities of parents, the state, and others involved with children. The objectives of this research are 1) to study the legal measures regarding child protection laws and issues related to the sexual exploitation of children in Thailand, compared to international and foreign laws, and 2) to explore ways to amend and improve Thai laws on child protection from sexual exploitation of children in Thailand to align with international standards. The study found that significant child protection laws in Thailand include: 1) the Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003), 2) the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), and 3) the Domestic Violence Victims Protection Act, B.E. 2550 (2007). However, due to various factors and ambiguous definitions, the child protection laws have not fully achieved their objectives, allowing offenders to receive lighter punishments. Therefore, this article examines ways to amend and improve Thai child protection laws regarding sexual exploitation of children to be consistent with international law. The recommendations on legal action can be divided into three approaches: legal measures and child protection issues regarding sexual exploitation of children, child protection issues from sexual exploitation, and measures to suppress those who sexually exploit children.

The Legal Implications of Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies: A Nigerian Perspective

Children have the right to life, survival and development but also a right to be protected from any form of abuse, particularly in schools. Therefore, the standards for child protection in schools should be guided by the principles that prioritize the safety, well-being and rights of children. These principles form the basis of child protection safeguarding policies in schools and are paramount in ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for children. Yet the spate of child protection issues in Nigeria raises questions regarding the existence, implementation and enforcement of the pieces of legislation and policies within schools. This work not only examined the legal framework for child protection in Nigeria but also the legal implications of child safeguarding policies in schools. It argues that in order for schools to create a secure and safe environment for learning, firstly, the establishment of child safeguarding policies and procedure are critical to achieving this. Secondly, schools need to abandon the old concept of punishment-based discipline that relies on fear and embrace a more modern correction-based approach to discipline and establish structures to leverage discipline to achieve a safe and secure environment for all. It concludes that safeguarding policies should be viewed as a school’s translation of child protection legislation for action and as such, its implementation manual. In drawing lessons from the UK, the study recommended that government needs to drive child protection issues through the education of stakeholders and the establishment of an enforcement mechanism or regulatory body. This body should coordinate child safeguarding issues by providing a platform for stakeholder collaboration in order to achieve more cohesion within the sector.

Legal Protection Through Diversion in Child Crimes Based on the Juvenile Justice System Law (SPPA Law)

Child protection issues in Indonesia are regulated in the Law on the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA Law). Legal protection efforts for children can be carried out through diversion. Diversion in its implementation is an action taken as a change from the process of resolving cases that occur to children to a settlement process outside the court. If a child commits a criminal offense before turning eighteen, and if the child is turned into the juvenile court after turning eighteen but before turning twenty-one, they are still turned over to the juvenile court. Article 20 of Law No. 11/2012 on the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA Law) states as much. This article's goal is to investigate how the Juvenile Justice System Law (SPPA Law) protects juvenile criminals legally through diversion. The primary and secondary legal resources served as the data sources for this normative legal study. Qualitative procedures argue that problems differ in their nature, this research approach is more likely to use in-depth analytical tools, specifically looking at problems based on legal protection. The research material collected will be examined in accordance with the relevant legal and regulatory framework by way of comparison with actual practice. The results state that the legal protection of children through diversion is related to the transfer of cases from the formal process to the informal process, or removing the perpetrator from the juvenile criminal justice system. Legal protection can be understood as efforts to enforce the law in support of children's various freedoms (including their basic rights and freedoms) and interests relating to their welfare. As such, all children are protected, including those involved in legal disputes (ABH).

Collaborative Strategies for Enhancing Child Protection Practices in Pre-Primary Schools: A Case Study of Kira Municipality, Uganda

Child protection practices are measures and interventions intended to safeguard children against violence in school. These practices create safe environments that enable children to thrive. Some of these include the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Child protection agencies’ collaboration is a partnership that supports children’s well-being. This study investigated the contribution of child protection agencies’ collaboration on protection practices in Pre-primary schools in Kira Municipality, which has continued to be challenging. This study was informed by the social capital theory emphasizing the significance of social relationships, trust, and mutuality. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, and data was collected using quantitative and qualitative tools. These included document analysis checklists, interview guides, observation checklists, and questionnaires. The respondents included headteachers, Centre Management Committee members, parents, Local Council members, and Probation officers. The results indicated that schools rarely collaborated with child protection agencies to ensure that protection practices were implemented in pre-primary schools. In contrast, the probation officers reported that the schools didn’t involve them during the planning, though it was when they would know the areas for collaboration. Four significant recommendations for improving child protection practices are given. Child protection workers need to jointly develop plans that promote child safety and protection, train and build the capacity of educators on issues of child protection, increase resources and financial support to promote child safety and protection, and finally, advocate for laws and policies that promote children’s rights.

Collaborative Strategies for Enhancing Child Protection Practices in Pre-Primary Schools: A Case Study of Kira Municipality, Uganda

Child protection practices are measures and interventions intended to safeguard children against violence in school. These practices create safe environments that enable children to thrive. Some of these include the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Child protection agencies’ collaboration is a partnership that supports children’s well-being. This study investigated the contribution of child protection agencies’ collaboration on protection practices in Pre-primary schools in Kira Municipality, which has continued to be challenging. This study was informed by the social capital theory emphasizing the significance of social relationships, trust, and mutuality. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, and data was collected using quantitative and qualitative tools. These included document analysis checklists, interview guides, observation checklists, and questionnaires. The respondents included headteachers, Centre Management Committee members, parents, Local Council members, and Probation officers. The results indicated that schools rarely collaborated with child protection agencies to ensure that protection practices were implemented in pre-primary schools. In contrast, the probation officers reported that the schools didn’t involve them during the planning, though it was when they would know the areas for collaboration. Four significant recommendations for improving child protection practices are given. Child protection workers need to jointly develop plans that promote child safety and protection, train and build the capacity of educators on issues of child protection, increase resources and financial support to promote child safety and protection, and finally, advocate for laws and policies that promote children’s rights.

Nepali Media in Fulfilling Social Responsibility for Child Rights

News stories on child protection, including child trafficking, prepared by a group of reporters who participated in training on the same theme, resulted in 141 articles in 62 media outlets, both in print and online versions. The study reveals that among the total published news stories, 30.5 percent are related to child sex abuse, follow ed by orientations and awareness programs on child protection issues at 24.8 percent, and trafficking in persons at 10.6 percent (7.1 percent child trafficking, 3.5 percent adult trafficking). One of the issues concerning child protection that has been widely reported, even by reporters who did not participate in the above-mentioned training, is orphanage trafficking. The analysis of selected content from the media outlets, focus group discussions with the reporters who wrote the news, and key informant interviews with their editors reveal that they are willing to collaborate with CSOs and child rights organizations. They consider expert sources and fellowships or grants for story cultivation to be acceptable. However, they stress the need for transparency and the absence of personal interests on both sides during the collaboration. The study also found that there is a practice of providing editorial instructions on reporting issues of child protection. However, almost all media outlets lack written editorial guidelines in this regard.

Strategi Komunikasi Pendamping PKH dalam Menyampaikan Modul Perlindungan Anak untuk Mencegah Penelantaran dan Eksploitasi Anak Bagi KPM PKH Kecamatan Nisam

This study aims to explore the communication strategies employed by PKH facilitators in delivering the Child Protection Module, specifically in Session 12, focusing on the prevention of child neglect and exploitation in Nisam District, North Aceh Regency. The research is motivated by the critical role of PKH facilitators in educating Beneficiary Families (KPM) to raise awareness and understanding of child protection. The study applied a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data were collected through observations, in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis of the communication patterns used by PKH facilitators. The findings reveal that communication strategies based on participation, empathy, and contextual adaptation significantly enhance KPM’s understanding of child protection issues. Facilitators utilized visual media such as posters and illustrative storytelling while adopting simplified language relevant to the audience's daily life. Challenges like low literacy levels and limited time were effectively addressed through inclusive and dialogical approaches. The primary conclusion is that effective communication strategies focus not only on message content but also on delivery methods that reach the audience personally and contextually. This research contributes significantly to the development of social education programs by emphasizing the importance of adaptive and participatory communication approaches to create sustainable social impacts.

Protection of minors and perspectives of balancing fundamental rights

Tutela dei minori e prospettive di bilanciamento di diritti fondamentali ABSTRACT: The article analyses the complex issue of child protection in the context of ritual circumcision, identifying the fundamental rights to be balanced. In particular, the text focuses on the diverse landscape of regional health policies, which only in some cases provide coverage for non-therapeutic circumcision, with clear disparities between regions. SUMMARY: 1. Premise - 2. Circumcision and children's rights - 3. Circumcision in public health - 4. Perspectives.

Why is child protection in many African countries perennially underfunded? - A political economy perspective

BackgroundAt a time when many children suffer from various kinds of abuse, child protection is chronically under-funded in government budgets. Whether a government decides to increase or cut spending on health, education, child protection and other issues boils down to political choice, which is influenced by social, economic, and political realities within which decisions on resource mobilization and allocation are made. ObjectivesExplore how political economy dynamics influence decisions on public spending on child protection in Africa. Participantsand Setting: 192 key informants selected through stratified and purposive sampling including government officials, academics, and civil society organizations from Botswana, Kenya, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe. The country selection reflects the different levels of fragility. MethodsUsing a multi-disciplinary conceptual framework, the study entailed document review, participant observation and in-depth interviews guided by an-open ended interview guide. The study applied a qualitative analysis methodology to identify common trends and themes. ResultsThe under-prioritization of child protection in budgeting is a consequence of a mosaic of political economy dynamics including prevailing socio-cultural and legal constructions of childhood, fiscal politics throughout the budget cycle, how the state is structured, and power exercised to drive national development. ConclusionsInstead of viewing under prioritization of child protection in government budgets as a purely technical problem, child-focused organizations should do some soul-searching and be intentional in seeking to understand and to navigate the politics and economics of public budgeting which influence decisions, if they are to trigger positive changes in government spending on child protection.

Prevention Of Violence Against Children In School Environment

The next generation of the nation is made up of children who have dreams and aspirations for the future and the progress and sustainability of Indonesia's development. Therefore, children need to be protected by parents, families, communities, and the government. The increasing cases of violence against children in recent years have raised concerns for parents, communities, academics, and practitioners. This is feared to have a negative impact on the future of children and also on the nation. One factor is the environmental situation. It is important for every parent, educator, and community to conduct socialization about violence against children. This needs to be done so that children can understand the importance of this problem, especially in the digital era that continues to develop today. This is also effective in preparing children to go through puberty. Indonesia has had the Child Protection Law and various other regulations related to child protection issues, which normatively provide protection for children to guarantee respect for their rights. Every year, the number of cases of violence against children in Indonesia continues to increase, especially in Central Lombok Regency, which has experienced a fairly worrying increase. The methods used in this community service activity include observation and social interaction with partners. Therefore, it is important to carry out this service by conducting counseling at SDN 2 Mujur, East Praya, Central Lombok. Together with partners, we organize a series of socialization activities to optimize efforts to prevent violence against children in the school environment. The main objective of this activity is so that the community, especially the next generation of the nation, can understand the consequences of violence against children. The impact of this socialization process is that students can gain knowledge and understanding of regulations and efforts to prevent violence against children.

Regional Government Policy in the Implementation of Child-Friendly City: An Analysis of Way Kanan District

The child-friendly city concept implementation in Way Kanan City is intended to fulfill the needs of children's rights there. This paper aims to contribute to policymakers’ implementation of child-friendly cities, especially in developing countries, by analyzing how child-friendly cities are implemented and the challenges faced. This article was created using socio-legal research methods. The results of this study show that the implementation is carried out by the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection through several stages, namely, KLA development planning in the form of preparing Regional Action Plans, then implementing KLA development in the form of KLA programs’ implementation by involving all resources and implementing child-friendly school programs as well as monitoring and evaluating KLA development regularly. Implementation constraints come from internal factors. Challenges include limited human resources and an inability to understand women's empowerment and child protection issues, which affect socialization. Public facilities also need improvement to meet child-friendly standards. Meanwhile, technical coordination issues and misunderstandings about the KLA program's purpose arise due to external factors. Societal attitudes towards violence as education hinder program implementation. The suggestion for this research is to improve coordination between stakeholders or increase cooperation with partners to overcome problems regarding the lack of human resources, increase the budget and optimize the implementation of child-friendly city efforts.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY IN LEMBAGA PENYELENGGARA KESEJAHTERAAN SOSIAL (LPKS)

Lembaga Penyelenggaraan Kesejahteraan Sosial (LPKS) is an institution that organizes social rehabilitation programs for children in conflict with the law. LPKS applies a social work and child rights approach to achieve children's social functioning, growth, and development in a safe environment while participating in social rehabilitation programs. LPKS chose the Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP) to uphold a safe environment. CSP is a system or collection of activities, procedures, documents, and responses in addressing child protection issues in the context of the institution. It covers a range of activities from prevention to response to child abuse issues. This article aims to describe the process of the Social Welfare Institution in implementing the Child Protection Policy. This article is a qualitative article based on the framework of constructivism and interpretivism, using ethnographic methods. Its selection is based on the benefits of collecting information through involvement in implementation, participatory observation, field notes, and report documents. The process of LPKS in implementing the Child Protection Policy implies (1) the role of leaders in demonstrating the commitment of the institution to protecting children from the risk of abuse, (2) the Child Protection Policy must be carried out integrally through awareness, prevention, reporting, and response to child abuse issues, (3) the Protection Policy must be carried out in an integrated manner.

Current approaches addressing oral health practitioners' responsiveness to child abuse and neglect: A scoping review protocol.

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) poses significant risks, causing severe and long-lasting effects on a child's well-being, including physical and mental health and learning and socializing capabilities. Oral health practitioners (OHPs) uniquely position themselves to identify signs of maltreatment in the orofacial area, offer appropriate support, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team. The literature has shown that OHPs under-report child protection concerns to a statutory child protection agency. Responding to CAN is often hindered by various factors, such as the fear of making false accusations and insufficient knowledge to detect and report potential cases. However, the literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of the strategies and interventions that can address the responsiveness of OHPs and other professionals to child protection issues. This scoping review aims to provide a broad overview and map the literature on the existing approaches to enhance the responsiveness of OHPs in child protection. The proposed scoping review will be conducted following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews guideline and reported using the PRISMA-ScR guideline. The first exploratory search is conducted to refine the search strategy and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The second search will include MEDLINE (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), Dentistry & Oral Science Source (EBSCO), Cochrane Library, and Scopus, with a date range from January 2000 to March 2023. The third search will involve reference list searching and gray literature searching in Google and Google Scholar. Government and international health organizations' websites will be searched for policies and guidelines. The review will consider studies that report the current approaches to address OHPs' responsiveness to CAN in any setting. Two reviewers will independently select sources and extract data. Any disagreements will be resolved by consensus of the research team. The extracted data will be presented in a tabulated chart with a narrative summary.

Child Protection of Perpetrators of Terrorism in Indonesia: How should we do? Should we punish them?

In Indonesia, the issue of child protection within the context of perpetrators of terrorism presents a multifaceted challenge that necessitates a careful balance between justice and rehabilitation. This paper delves into the complexities surrounding this issue, acknowledging the rights and well-being of children while addressing the imperative for accountability and security. While children may be both victims and perpetrators of terrorism, the prevailing question is how to effectively respond to their involvement. This paper examines the existing legal frameworks in Indonesia, international standards, and the various challenges encountered in implementing appropriate strategies. It considers the identification and assessment of affected children, the efficacy of rehabilitation and reintegration programs, as well as the importance of psychological and social support. Moreover, it highlights the significance of community perceptions and the risk of stigmatization, as well as the need for long-term monitoring to prevent recidivism. Ultimately, this paper advocates for a comprehensive approach that combines punitive measures with rehabilitation efforts, emphasizing the importance of multi-agency collaboration, educational initiatives, psychosocial support, and legal safeguards. Through case studies and lessons learned, it aims to inform policymakers and practitioners in Indonesia on effective strategies for ensuring the protection and well-being of children involved in terrorism while upholding principles of justice and accountability.

Еволюція ідей захисту прав дитини

The article examines the ideas of children's rights protection from a historical perspective. It was found that in the Antiquity period, a child's life was not regarded as particularly valuable; children could be killed or left without proper care. The state had a significant influence on the process of child-rearing, shaping the skills and beliefs necessary for society. During the Middle Ages, children were seen as an economic resource for the family, and religion had a substantial impact on their upbringing. The Renaissance marked an important period for the development of humanistic ideas concerning human rights, including children's rights. Ideas emerged about the necessity of protecting children's rights, ensuring their proper upbringing, and creating a conducive environment for the development of their moral and intellectual qualities. Childhood began to be recognized as a distinct stage of life with its own unique characteristics and needs. In the Enlightenment period, ideas about the necessity of protecting and guaranteeing children's rights began to take shape. It was recognized that children had a certain level of freedom and rights to self-expression and selfrealization. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th-19th centuries initiated discussions about the need to recognize children's rights to protection from exploitation, improve their living conditions, and legally enshrine children's rights. From the beginning of the 20th century, following World War I, there was a growing interest in the issue of child protection in most European and North American countries. In 1924, the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted, which, despite being purely declarative, became the first international legal document aimed at protecting children's rights and interests. In 1959, as a continuation of the ideas of the Geneva Declaration, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was more comprehensive and detailed. However, these documents were not legally binding and served merely as recommendations. The 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child became the foundation for international protection of children's rights and is mandatory for implementation by the states that have ratified it.

전후 일본의 미망인운동과 모자보호

This paper examines the widow's movement and mother and child protection issues from immediately after the defeat to April 1952. The analysis until April 1952 is related to the political situation in Japan during this period. Japan was under Allied Occupation from immediately after the defeat until the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect in April 1952. After this treaty went into effect, Japan became an independent government. During this period, Japanese widows could be divided into war widows and ordinary widows. The most distinctive feature of war widows is that the bereaved family, centered on men other than widows, took the initiative and proceeded with a bereaved movement focusing on mental treatment issues such as memorials and condolences. The feature of the widow's movement examined in this paper focuses on life problems. Therefore, it includes not only ordinary widows but also war widows in need due to livelihoods. In addition, unlike the bereaved movement, which is centered on male bereaved families, the widow's movement is centered on women. This article examines the reality of widows who lived in chaos during the occupation period, which began immediately after the defeat in World War II. Then, through the relationship between the mother-child dormitory and the widow's movement, it will examines the issue of mother-child protection. This analysis will provide implications for examining the changing social and mental awareness of widows based on life problems.

Factors Affecting the Prevalence of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines

The culture within the family and community generally affects people's attitudes and acceptance towards using available technology. Alternately, technology can also influence the culture and social behaviors of people. This study aimed to discuss the family and community factors and their unintentional contribution to the prevalence of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and explore the community's perspectives of OSAEC. Utilizing a qualitative approach, it employed focus group discussions and interviews to obtain relevant data and insights from the participants. Based on thematic analysis, family factors include (1) unsupervised access to the internet and gadgets, (2) children disregarding their parents' reminders on gadget usage, and (3) parents' lack of knowledge on the use of phones and the internet. In terms of community factors, (1) poor socioeconomic conditions, (2) limited community initiatives to capacitate parents on online media risks and OSAEC, and (3) limited knowledge of emerging child protection issues may have contributed to OSAEC cases. Furthermore, the study found that community members view OSAEC as a cybercrime involving showing and sending obscene pictures, texts, or videos without physical contact. Given the findings, establishing appropriate mechanisms for responsible online use and online behavior is vital to ensure proactiveness in protecting children against abuse and exploitation at family and community levels