![A young child refugee from Syria laughs and plays with Save the Children's Mariluz Garcia in Idomeni at the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. More than 10,000 refugees are stranded in Idomeni waiting for the border to open. Save the Children works in Idomeni offering protection to children traveling alone and provides food and support to families. Photo credit: Pedro Armestre, September 2015. A young child refugee from Syria laughs and plays with Save the Children's Mariluz Garcia in Idomeni at the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. More than 10,000 refugees are stranded in Idomeni waiting for the border to open. Save the Children works in Idomeni offering protection to children traveling alone and provides food and support to families. Photo credit: Pedro Armestre, September 2015.](https://image.savethechildren.org/x-default-ch11042933.jpg/nerpirmx72r5f6y338181op1nx023ft0.jpg?g=auto&w=768&format=webp&itok=qjvBrjvA)
Global Child Protection
Every last child deserves to grow up safe from harm
Global Child Protection
Child protection and keeping vulnerable children safe from harm is a critical issue around the world. In every country, every culture, at every social and economic level, children are at risk of violence including physical and emotional abuse, sexual harm and exploitation, and neglect or deliberate deprivation.
Children living in households and communities impacted by conflict, natural disasters, and global pandemics like HIV/AIDS are often at increased risk of abuse, violence and exploitation and having their learning, relationship building and – ultimately – their ability to thrive as an adult member of society negatively impacted.
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.