Shine a Light on Child Abuse Awareness Month 2024 with Save the Children
Each year, National Child Abuse Awareness Month is acknowledged throughout April. National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Save the Children was the first global organization devoted solely to serving children’s needs, protecting them from harm and securing their rights. Today, we champion the rights of the world’s 2.3 billion children. Save the Children puts child protection at the center of all its work, especially in times of crisis and conflict, when children are most vulnerable. This is why Child Abuse Awareness Month is so important to Save the Children.
The Impact of Child Abuse Awareness Month
Every child should grow up feeling safe and supported, yet sadly, half of the world's children experience violence every year [1]. It's important to know that children in every country, every culture and at every social level can face various forms of violence and abuse.
During the month of April, as well as throughout the entire year, it's important to raise the issue of child abuse to maximize the impact of Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Save the Children is proud to make an impact on child protection. In 2022, we reached millions of children with activities supporting access to inclusive and gender-sensitive child protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services.
We were instrumental in the completion of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Protection Policy Review & Work Plan Action, which ensures child protection is central to humanitarian work, and we will continue to support its ongoing implementation. We also worked with partners to contribute to important legislative changes.
How Save the Children Promotes Child Safety
Save the Children has been built on the fundamental belief that all children have the right to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation. As a child rights and social justice organization promoting the education, health and protection of children, Save the Children works in some of the most complex contexts across the globe to deliver programs and activities to the world's most vulnerable children.
At Save the Children, we will not accept our representatives committing any acts of child abuse. Our child safeguarding policy defines child abuse as "anything which individuals, institutions or processes do or fail to do which directly or indirectly harms children or damages their prospect of safe and healthy development into adulthood."
The main categories of Child Abuse are Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Exploitation, Neglect/Negligent Treatment, and Sexual Exploitation & Abuse.
During the month of April, as well as throughout the entire year, it's important to raise the issue of child abuse and the well-being of children around the world to maximize the impact of Child Abuse Awareness Month.
By 2030 Save the Children is committed to ensuring that violence against children is no longer tolerated and that the most vulnerable children around the world are protected.
To achieve these ambitious goals for children, their families and communities, we work to prevent violence from occurring in the first place. However, when violence does occur, we respond by ensuring children receive the support they need to recover and return to a supportive and protective environment. We do this by:
- Strengthening families and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to protect children;
- Working with governments to develop and implement protective policies for children;
- Supporting relevant duty bearers and other partners, like social workers, clinic staff, teachers, and police, to effectively implement and coordinate appropriate services for children; and
- Listening to and involving children in their own protection.
Save the Children is on the ground every day protecting children from harm, including abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence, while promoting a safe family environment for every child. Save the Children protects children from violence and advocates for others to do the same. We lead the world in protecting children in conflict and war zones, identifying their needs, advocating for their safety, and giving physical and mental health support, particularly when they are displaced and alone.