Save the Children’s

Child Protection Strategy

2013-2015
Making the world a safe place for children

Child Protection Initiative

May 2013
 S A V E T H E C H I L D R E N ’ S C H I L D P R O T E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2013- 2015

Contents
PAGE NO
Opening message
3

1. Executive summary and introduction

4
2. The magnitude of the problem, trends, progress and challenges
8

3. Save the Children’s child protection priority areas

12

3.1 Children without appropriate care

12
3.2. Child protection in emergencies
15
3.3 Physical and humiliating punishment
17
3.4. Children and Work
19
4. Child Protection Breakthrough
20

5. Approaches
22
5.1 Theory of Change
23
5.2 Systems approach
25
6. Advocacy objectives to be achieved by 2015
26

7. Measuring impact
27

8. Fundraising 28

9. The role of the Child Protection Initiative

29

Annex 1: Key Child Protection definitions

31

Annex 2: Save the Children’s Overall Global Strategy 2010-2015 32

Annex 3: Child Protection Breakthrough Results Framework

33

Annex 4: Key components of the Theory of Change 34

Annex 5: References 35

Notes 36

Cover images:
Top left: © Brent Stirton
Top right: © Michael Bisceglie
Bottom left: © Aubrey Wade
Bottom right: © Michael Bisceglie

Contents page: © Joanne Offer, Save the Children.

S A VE TH E CH ILDR EN’ S C H I L D PR O T E C T I O N S T R AT E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

Opening message

Save the Children makes a family environment and no

difference to millions of children’s child is placed in harmful
lives around the world through its institutions.”
child protection work. We believe
that all children have the right to Despite Save the Children’s strong
be protected from abuse, neglect, child protection work and that of
violence and exploitation so that many other committed
they can survive, learn, participate, organisations, children all over the
play and develop. world continue to experience
abuse, neglect, violence and
We have a very ambitious goal: exploitation every day, and grave
By 2015, we aim to have improved violations of their rights continue
the lives of 21 million children to be witnessed. This cannot be
through preventive and remedial justified and needs to be stopped
child protection measures and to now.
have invested US$ 250 million to
support child protection I call on everyone – all of Save the
programmes. In 2012, we reached Children’s members and country
over 23 million children and offices – to take action and to
30.7 million adults, and Save the engage and invest in child
Children members invested over protection so that we fulfil our
US$151 million to support child ambition to end all forms of
protection programmes. We will violence against children. But we
continue our work to dramatically cannot achieve this alone.
improve the quality and increase Partnerships with civil society
the scale of our child protection organisations, governments, United
programmes, through capacity- Nations agencies and children are
building, advocacy, interagency crucial to making this happen.
collaboration, and resource
mobilisation.
Together we can make the world
This paper sets out our child safe for children.
protection strategy for 2013-2015.
It explains our priorities and how Elisabeth Dahlin, Secretary General,
we will measure success. The Save the Children Sweden
strategy also includes our child
protection breakthrough: “All
children are cared for in a safe

3
© Sebastian Rich, Save the Children.
 1. Executive summary and introduction

Child protection deserves to be a priority – Children experience abuse,

neglect, violence and exploitation1 in all the countries where Save the
Children works. Millions of children are affected and even more are at risk.
Child protection is therefore a key priority for Save the Children’s
domestic and international programmes, in both development and
humanitarian contexts. We are the key independent child protection actor
globally, with long experience of working in partnership with civil society
organisations, child-led initiatives, governments and other key actors to stop all
forms of violence against children.

“No violence against children is justifiable and

all violence against children is preventable.”
Professor Paulo Pinheiro, Independent Expert for the UN Study on Violence against Children (2006)2

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© Luca Kleve-Ruud - Magnum for Save the Children.
SAVE THE CHILDREN’S CHILD PROTECTION STRATEGY 2013-2015

Child protection failures affect progress in all

sectors’ – Protecting children from violence, abuse,
exploitation and neglect is essential for them to
enjoy their rights to survival, development and
participation. Many children drop out of school
because of the protection issues they face and
young girls die because of early marriage and other
harmful practices. Every failure to protect children
has negative effects that continue into their adult
life – and also holds back a country’s national
development. By contrast, where children are
protected, their health, education and well-being
are improved as well as their ability to contribute
to society as future citizens.

In all contexts – Save the Children is a “dual

mandate” organisation that delivers for children
in both development and emergency contexts.
Humanitarian crises make children even more
vulnerable. Therefore, our work addresses the
immediate and long-term child protection
consequences of emergencies. We are also giving
increasing attention to urbanisation, as safety
nets are often weakened as a consequence of
urban growth.

Our priority areas – Save the Children’s four child Save the Children defines
protection priority areas for the period 2010-2015
are:
‘child protection’ as a set of measures
and structures to prevent and respond
• Children Without Appropriate Care to abuse, neglect, violence and
• Child Protection in Emergencies
Physical and Humiliating Punishment
exploitation affecting children.
•
• Children and Work

The focus of each priority area, including goals and

objectives, are described below and in Section 3.
See also the key definitions in Annex 1.

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Every child deserves a life free from abuse, neglect, Because of this, Save the Children has adopted a
violence and exploitation. Experience has shown specific child protection breakthrough within its
that this happens most often when the child is four priorities:3
loved and cared for in a safe family environment.

“All children thrive in a safe family environment

and no child is placed in harmful institutions.”

Table 1 summarises the key child protection objectives that we aim to achieve by 2015. These objectives
guide our members and country offices.

Table 1: Overview of key child protection goals to be achieved by 2015

Vision All children are protected from abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation

Overall goal The lives of 21 million children will be improved through preventative
and remedial child protection efforts in 2015

Children Without By 2015, 4.6 million children4 without appropriate care, and their
Appropriate Care families, including children affected by HIV and AIDS and those on the
move, will benefit from good-quality preventive and/or remedial
interventions within an improved child protection system

Child Protection By 2015, 3.7 million children5 affected by armed conflict and disaster will
in Emergencies be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence through
preventive and remedial interventions based on the Minimum Standards
for Child Protection in Humanitarian Response6

Physical and By 2015, 9.2 million children7 will be protected from physical and
Humiliating Punishment humiliating punishment in all settings

Children and Work By 2015, 3.5 million children8 children will benefit from services that will
enable them to fulfil their rights

Breakthrough All children thrive in a safe family environment and no child is placed in
harmful institutions

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Our approach – Save the Children’s approach is Anyone representing our organisation will at all
based on every child’s right to be protected and times adhere to the highest standards of behaviour
cared for, ideally by their own family or in a family- towards children and their families. Wherever there
like environment. We are strengthening are concerns regarding our own representatives,
community-based and national child protection they will be investigated honestly and fairly with due
systems and we are working in partnership with regard to internal disciplinary procedures and
governments and civil society actors. We promote national legal procedures. Procedures are also in
the ethical and meaningful participation of children place to protect any children whose rights have
in all stages of our programming and we are been violated.
addressing discrimination and poverty to reach the
Responsibility for the implementation of the
most vulnerable children. Changes in legislation,
safeguarding policy lies with Save the Children
policies, services and social norms – and increased
International’s Human Resource Department.
investment in child protection – are necessary to
However, all staff members within the organisation
prevent and respond to all forms of violence.
are responsible for ensuring that we do no harm
Save the Children is guided by the UN Convention and that our child protection programmes do not
on the Rights of the Child, by other international put children at risk. For further details please see
instruments and by our own Theory of Change. Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy
The Theory of Change provides overall strategic here.
guidance to our programmes to develop and test
evidence-based solutions with a view to scaling Child protection strategy – This strategy sets out
them up through advocacy and partnership. We are the changes that Save the Children expects to see
putting increasing emphasis on creating a strong in the protection of children by 2015. Our child
evidence base by strengthening monitoring, protection strategy 2013-2015 articulates the main
evaluation and learning. targets and aims we expect to achieve.9 It will be
successfully achieved only through the joint efforts
Safeguarding – Save the Children aims to be a of all sections of the organisation.
child-safe organisation. This means we will do all
that we can to ensure that children (and their
families) we work with are free from any form
of abuse or exploitation. We do everything we
can to ensure that our programme design and
implementation is safe for children.

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2. The magnitude of the problem, trends,

progress and challenges

“Children have suffered violence at the hands of adults unseen and

unheard for centuries. But now that the scale and impact of violence is
becoming visible, they cannot be kept waiting any longer for the effective
protection to which they have an unqualified right.”
From the UN Study on Violence against Children10

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© Per-Anders Pettersson - Getty Images for Save the Children
SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

Abuse, neglect violence and exploitation are The full scale of violence is unknown, as much
serious human rights violations that occur in of it goes unreported because of shame, fear or
all parts of the world. This includes within the inadequate reporting mechanisms. Some of the
home, in schools, in institutions, at work, in the violence against children remains legal, state
community, in armed conflicts and in natural authorised and/or socially approved. The figures
disasters. Exposure in one setting may be in the box give an indication of the enormous
compounded by violence in another. Violence magnitude of the global child protection crisis –
against children is increasingly linked across although the specific nature of child protection
countries and regions, through child trafficking, issues can differ between the developed and
child abusive images, unsafe migration, and the developing world, the fundamentals are the same.
increasing frequency of migration due to climate-
related disasters.

Fact box: The global child protection crisis

• It is estimated that about 20% of women • Some 17,700 asylum applications were
and 5-10% of men suffered sexual abuse as lodged by unaccompanied or separated
children11 children in 69 countries in 2011, mostly by
Afghan and Somali children.
• Since 1990, an estimated 90% of those
killed in conflicts around the world have • It is estimated that over 145 million
been civilians, and 80% of those have been children have lost one or both parents.16
women and children.12 Over 8 million children without
appropriate care around the world live in
• In at least 13 countries, children are being residential care facilities.17
recruited into armed forces and groups.13
• Around the world, 115 million children –
• It is estimated that between 100 and 140 74 million boys and 41 million girls – are
million girls and women in the world have involved in the worst forms of child
undergone some form of female genital labour.18
mutilation.14
• Three out of four children experience
• Among young women aged 15-24, 48% violent discipline at home.19
were married before the age of 18 in
South Asia (9.7 million girls), 42% in Africa, • 16.6 million children have lost one or both
and 29% in Latin America and the parents due to HIV and AIDS and have
Caribbean.15 important care needs: 90% of those
children live in sub-Saharan Africa.20

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Both the long- and short-term repercussions of

violence can be devastating. Exposure to violence Examples of progress on child
in early childhood can affect the maturing brain.
Children’s prolonged exposure to various forms of
protection at international level
violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect – either as
victims or witnesses – can disrupt nervous and In order to advance the goal of protecting
immune systems and lead to social, emotional and children during armed conflict and ending the
cognitive impairments, as well as risky behaviour, impunity enjoyed by perpetrators, the UN
including substance abuse and early sexual activity. Security Council established a Monitoring and
Reporting Mechanism to systematically
Violence against children has a devastating effect, monitor, document and report on violence
not only on the development of the child, but also against children.26
on the development of societies, and has enormous
The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of
economic and social costs. Studies in Australia,
Children (Guidelines) were formally
New Zealand and the USA have calculated the
endorsed by the UN General Assembly on
financial costs of child abuse and neglect for these
20 November 2009. The Guidelines focus on
societies.21 Over 1 million children are affected
two main issues: ensuring that children are
every year in the USA, costing an estimated
not unnecessarily placed in alternative care;
US$220 million per day.22 Child abuse and neglect
and, where out-of-home care is provided,
costs New Zealand around US$1.7 billion each
ensuring that it is delivered under conditions
year, representing over 1% of gross domestic
that are appropriate to the child’s rights and
product.23 In 2007 in Australia, an estimated
best interest.
177,000 children under the age of 18 were victims
of abuse or neglect, costing the country between
US$10.7 billion and US$30.1 billion that year.24
Less than two decades ago, international agencies
Progress has been made. The 2009 and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were
only beginning to integrate child protection into
United Nations Children’s Fund
their interventions. Today, most interventions in
(UNICEF) report card on child both humanitarian and development contexts
protection25 shows some progress include child protection components.

over the last two decades, such as a Despite some remarkable developments, overall
progress has been too limited and too slow – partly
number of governments strengthening because the Millennium Development Goals
their commitment and actions (MDGs) framework failed to address children’s
protection and wider human security issues.27
(including laws, policies and services) Contrary to the Millennium Declaration – which
to stop violence against children. recognised the human rights dimension of
However, the report notes that development and the importance of protecting
children from conflict, violence, abuse and
progress has been altogether too exploitation – the MDGs do not include a goal of
little and too slow. protecting adults and children. This has resulted in a
lack of donor and government attention, and has
sent a signal to the international community that
Data from some countries where data is available child protection is not a priority. Save the Children
shows that girls are now getting married at a later is, therefore, advocating for the post-2015 MDG
age, and that the rates of the worst forms of child framework to include child protection.
labour and female genital mutilation/cutting are
declining.
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Karin Beate Nosterud - Save the Children
 SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

3. Save the Children’s child protection

priority areas

During the design of Save the Children’s global strategy for the period 2010-2015, Save the Children
decided that the organisation should focus its child protection work on four priority areas:

• Children Without Appropriate Care

• Child Protection in Emergencies
• Physical and Humiliating Punishment
• Children and Work

Each priority area includes a strategic goal and a set of strategic objectives relating to identified sub-
themes (see also key definitions in Annex 1).

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3.1 Children Without Appropriate Care

“We were never taught to live on our own. On certain days we were given soap, a toothbrush,
toothpaste and clothes, usually the same for all. Until the age of 12 we all had the same haircut.
It was like living in an incubator.” Girl in an institution, Russia29
Figure 3.1 Children Without Appropriate Care: goal and sub-themes for the period 2010-201530

By 2015, 4.6 million children • Children in, or at risk of requiring,

alternative care
without appropriate care, and
Children without appropriate care benefit from good-
their families, (including children quality care services either in their own families or,
on the move and children when necessary, in family and community-based
affected by HIV and AIDS) alternatives

will benefit from good-quality • Children on the move

Children who move, either voluntarily or involuntarily,
interventions within an improved
have better access to local and national care and
child protection system protection systems to protect them from exploitation,
abuse, neglect and violence

Millions of children are without appropriate care be pushed on to the streets, engage in harmful or
due to violence and abuse, poverty, conflict, exploitative work to care for their families, or
parental illness, HIV and AIDS, disability and become increasingly vulnerable to harmful
humanitarian disasters, etc. Such children live in situations.
many different circumstances, including being on the
Millions of children are on the move both within
street, on the move, in extended families, in
and between countries and very little attention
institutions, or being unsafe in their own families
is paid to their care and protection at national,
due to the family situation or poor parenting skills.
regional or international levels. Children on the
There are, for example, an estimated 8 million move, and especially those who move alone,
vulnerable children worldwide who are living in are vulnerable to all forms of violence and
poor-quality institutional care that is harmful to discrimination. They often lack access to services
their physical, social and intellectual development.31 and risk ending up in institutions, detention centres,
Yet four out of five of those children have one or on the street, or in poor-quality accommodation.
both parents alive who, with support, could care
for them. Numerous studies have highlighted the What we do
damage that institutionalisation has on child
development. A recent study in Romania found that “Thank God, now I know a lot of people, and
institutionalisation in young children is one of the some of them are important people. Yani (name
biggest threats to early brain development, with of Case worker) often visit me, and I also
effects similar to that of severe malnutrition, lead travelled to Bandung (child and family support
poisoning and the mother’s drug use during centre). Now I can give advice to In, not like
pregnancy.32
before, because he was in the institution and we
Children affected by HIV and AIDS have lost or hardly saw each other, but now we have time to
are at risk of losing their primary caregivers, which talk to each other.”
can leave them with precarious care arrangements.
In’s 47 year old father, who has been reunited with his
Without appropriate guidance, love and security
daughter after she had been placed in an institution in Indonesia
from a stable family structure, these children may
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Save the Children has pioneered the concept of

protecting children on the move, leading the
international debate on care for children on the
move in development and emergency settings, as
well as in reception, assistance and durable
solutions in the European Union (EU). We support
programmes and influence changes to national
policies to ensure that children at risk of unsafe
migration benefit from quality care and support in
their families, or when necessary in family- and
community-based alternatives, and that they have
access to protection services. We also advocate for
“Keluargaku Harapanku” (my family, my hope) –
changes in policies and service provision to ensure
a picture by Moro, a 15 year old child researcher, Indonesia
that children in transit and at their destination
receive adequate and coordinated support. In
Save the Children has extensive experience of addition, we advocate for coordination and
working in partnership with governments and other coherence across asylum, migration and trafficking
organisations to reform care systems away from policies that are based on the best interest of the
institutional care towards family-based care. We child, so that States provide services which at least
support the development and implementation of meet the minimum standards of quality care.
family- and community-based prevention and
alternative care models to divert vulnerable Save the Children is an active member of the Inter-
children from inappropriate care arrangements. Agency Group on Children on the Move.35
We also advocate for reform strategies or policy
frameworks that are compliant with the Guidelines
for the Alternative Care of Children,33 and which
include national care standards, legislation to
support family-based alternatives and increased
budget allocations for family-based care.
Save the Children resources on
We advocate on care issues and work closely with
key groups at international level, for example the Children Without Appropriate
Better Care Network.34 Care
The full Children Without Appropriate
“I arrived in Italy through Spain and France, Care strategy can be found here.
crossing the northern border. In my journey I felt
I was alone. I had the same feeling when I Handbooks, tools and other resources can
arrived in Rome. But since then I have met field be found on OneNet and on the
workers at the day centre for children on the Resource Centre on Child Protection
move "CIVICOZERO" of Save the Children. and Child Rights Governance.
I know I can count on them, on their support. Click on the links for information about the
Another child asked me to move on to London a Children Without Appropriate Care
few days ago. “No, I will stay in Rome, now I am
Task Group and sub-task group on
not alone anymore," I answered.”
Children on the Move.
M, 17 years old, from The Gambia

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3.2. Child Protection in “Another thing they do is to use children to

Emergencies36 protect themselves. They know we can’t shoot
our own children, so they put the children in
“There is nowhere safe for us. The soldiers go front – so they’re a human shield – and march
everywhere, even into our homes.” into our villages. It’s terrifying for the children.
11-year-old boy, Nablus, Occupied Palestinian Territories37
Many of them die.”
15-year-old Syrian boy38

Figure 3.2 Child Protection in Emergencies: goal and sub-themes for the period 2010-201539

By 2015, 3.7 million children • Overarching issues

Save the Children and the wider international
affected by armed conflict and community have increased capacity to implement
large-scale, effective child protection programmes
disaster will be protected from
before, during and after emergencies
abuse, neglect, exploitation,
• Sexual violence against children in emergencies
Girls and boys benefit from new, improved and scaled-
and violence through
up programmes that prevent, protect and respond to
preventive and remedial sexual violence in and after emergencies

interventions based on the • Children associated with armed forces or

armed groups
Minimum Standards Children benefit from improved, quality programmes
that prevent recruitment into armed forces or groups
for Child Protection in and/or support release and reintegration into families
and communities
Humanitarian Response
• Family separation
Separated and unaccompanied children are provided
with adequate care and family tracing and reunification
services, and children at risk of separation receive
preventive support services

Children are extremely vulnerable during a vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, violence and
humanitarian crisis. They are at risk of recruitment neglect.
into armed forces and groups, sexual violence,
Discriminatory attitudes and practices that existed
separation from their families, psychosocial distress,
prior to the emergency often intensify during a
trafficking and economic exploitation, genocide,
humanitarian crisis, and children become excluded
physical violence, killing and maiming, and other
from life-saving child protection services or
forms of harm. Family separation and the
information due to their gender, age, ethnicity,
breakdown of national and community-based child
sexual orientation or disability.
protection systems make girls and boys especially
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What we do Save the Children has considerable experience in

assisting with the release, reintegration and
“I was a child soldier. At the beginning of rehabilitation of children associated with armed
the war, neither of my parents was able to find forces or armed groups, and in working with
work. I have seven brothers and sisters. I voluntarily governments, armed forces and armed groups to
joined the army when I was 17 years old. The prevent child recruitment. We advocate for more
protective legal frameworks and practices in
community approached me and spoke to me about
collaboration with other agencies, such as Child
my situation and I realised being in the military Soldiers International, Watchlist and UNICEF.
wasn’t a good solution and so I left the movement.
We work with governments, UNICEF and other
Now I am trying to make sure other children do
NGOs to register separated and unaccompanied
not go down the same path that I did.”.40
children, and to trace and reunite children with
Former child soldier in West Africa their families. We advocate for children’s right to
birth registration and support government efforts
“The football brings us together. That is good. Now to develop information management systems.
we want to move on. We want to play against other Interagency guidelines and tools for family tracing
teams outside the camp. The next step is to get real and reunification have been developed.
football shoes. This is just the beginning for us girls.” Save the Children is a key actor in the area of child
Mary Hamoda, Sherkole Refugee Camp, Ethiopia protection in emergencies. We are also one of the
leading organisations in the interagency Child
Save the Children has selected three areas of work Protection Working Group41 within the Global
to bring about significant change for children in Protection Cluster. Our extensive experience in
emergencies: rights-based programming often places us in a
• sexual violence against children in leading position to improve knowledge and produce
emergencies innovative practices, tools and standards, such as
• children associated with armed forces or the development of the inter-agency Minimum
armed groups Standards on Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.42

• family separation.

In addition, our child protection in emergency work

Save the Children’s resources
includes capacity-building, resource-mobilisation,
psychosocial support and inclusion of child on Child Protection in
protection in disaster risk reduction. Emergencies
Sexual violence is addressed through community
The full strategy on Child Protection in
interventions and national strategies that fight the
Emergencies can be found here.
impunity of perpetrators, prevent sexual violence
and provide rehabilitation services for victims. We Handbooks, tools and other resources
also work with the Special Representative of the
can be found here.
UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed
Conflict to advocate for more child-friendly Information about the Child Protection in
implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Emergencies Task Group and contact
Mechanism.
details for the Chair of the task group
can be found here.

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3.3 Physical and Humiliating Punishment

“With these two hands my mother holds me, this I love. But with these two hands my mother
hits me. This I hate.” Girl, East Asia and the Pacific43

Figure 3.3 Physical and Humiliating Punishment: goal and sub-themes for the period 2010-201544

By 2015, 9.2 million children • Legal and policy change

will be directly and indirectly Governments ban physical and humiliating punishment
in all settings
reached by all Save the Children
interventions to end physical • Public attitudes
Communities no longer accept physical and
and humiliating punishment
humiliating punishment

• Behaviour change/ service delivery

Parents/caregivers and teachers practise
positive discipline

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© Susan Warner, Save the Children.

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Punitive violence by parents and other adults is Save the Children works towards eliminating all
the most common form of violence against children. forms of physical and humiliating punishment of
Over 40 States still authorise the whipping or children in the home, in schools and in all other
flogging of children in their penal systems and settings. This is done through advocating for legal
around 80 States authorise the beating and reform and supporting awareness-raising initiatives
humiliation of children in their schools. By the end leading to changes in attitudes and practices.
of 2012, 33 States had prohibited hitting of children We also promote parenting education and positive
in all settings, including in the home – many of them discipline programmes targeting caregivers, teachers
because of advocacy pursued directly or indirectly and other people working with children. In the
by Save the Children. However, a large majority of years to come, we will have a stronger focus on
children in the world are still living in countries promoting child participation in all aspects of
with no law prohibiting corporal punishment in the programming. We will also involve boys and men as
home.45 partners in stopping violence against children.
Teachers, parents and other caregivers often lack We are the leading organisation in this area, with
knowledge on how to guide children using non- programmes addressing this issue in more than
violent methods, and in many communities physical 50 countries around the world.
and humiliating punishment is deeply rooted in
social norms and culture. A recent study46 in 37
countries found that two-thirds of children aged
Save the Children’s resources
between 2 and 14 experience corporal punishment, on Physical and Humiliating
and 86% experience physical punishment and/or Punishment
psychological aggression. These high numbers are
confirmed in many countries where Save the The full strategy on Physical and
Children has supported research. Children around Humiliating Punishment can be found here.
the world continue to feel scared of, and frustrated
and humiliated by, their parents, despite these being Handbooks, tools and other resources can
the people they should be able to trust the most. be found here.
In a humanitarian crisis, children are more at risk of Information about the Physical and
physical and humiliating punishment, due to the Humiliating Punishment Task Group and
increased stress on families, separation and the
contact details for the Chair of the task
breakdown of formal and informal safety nets.
group can be found here.

What we do
“I used to hit them (my children) very hard
every time. I realised it is wrong to hit them...
That is when I began to change. Now, instead
of hitting them I just talk to them.”
Parent in the Philippines

© Ivor Pricket, Save the Children.

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SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

3.4. Children and Work

“The husband wakes me up and rapes me. He has threatened me with a knife and said
I must not tell anyone.”
15-year-old domestic worker, Guinea47

Currently it is estimated that there are over A thematic strategy for the children and work
115 million girls and boys48 who are engaged in priority area is being developed and will be
hazardous work that is mentally, physically, socially completed in 2013. The strategy will have a focus
or morally dangerous and harmful to them and on children working in the agriculture sector,
interferes with their education by depriving them of domestic labour and the role of the private sector
the opportunity to attend school or limits their to address harmful work.
attendance due to excessively long and heavy work.
Some of the children who are engaged in hazardous
work experience its worst forms – including
slavery, forced and bonded work, child trafficking,
illicit activities, and involvement in armed conflict, Save the Children’s resources
prostitution or pornography.
on Children and Work
Save the Children recognizes that not all forms of
work is harmful. While some forms of work violate A draft revised position paper on children
the rights of children, other forms of work do not, and work, updating our position on this
such as light work that can be combined with topic, was formulated in 200349 and will be
schooling or work where young people are not
finalised in early 2013.
exposed to hazards that impact on their wellbeing.
Many children and youth combine school and part Handbooks, tools and other resources on
time work successfully and in the process can Children and Work can be found here.
acquire self-esteem, develop a sense of belonging to
their family and community, gain relevant
knowledge and skills as well as gain important life
skills such as time and financial management.

In our programs, guided by the Convention on the

Rights of the Child, the best interests of the child
principle and the involvement and participation of
children themselves, Save the Children addresses
the complexity of broad issue of children and work
through an integral approach that combines our
expertise in child protection, economic
strengthening, health and education to create
opportunities for them to become healthy,
educated and empowered citizens.

© Olivia Arthur – Magnum Photos for Save the Children.

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 SA VE T H E CH ILDR EN ’S C H I L D PR O T E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

© Save the Children.

4. Child Protection Breakthrough

“All children thrive in a safe family environment and
no child is placed in harmful institutions.”
Save the Children's child protection breakthrough has the following objectives:

1. 2. 3.
Keep children safe Strengthen families and Securing family
prevent unnecessary reunification in
Children grow up in a safe family humanitarian crises
separation
environment free from harm
caused by violence, exploitation, Children without appropriate care Separated and unaccompanied
abuse or neglect. benefit from quality care either in children are provided with
their own families or, when adequate family tracing and
necessary, in family and reunification services in the best
community-based alternatives. interest of the child, and children
at risk of separation receive
preventive support services.

Please see the full breakthrough results framework in Annex 3.

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SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

Save the Children’s breakthroughs are areas in Ending violent disciplinary practices in the home
which dramatic changes in policy and practice are also reduces the risk of children ending up in
needed in order to protect and fulfil children’s abusive, harmful work and other forms of
rights. exploitation, including unsafe migration.
We have identified an area where we believe the
Strengthening families and preventing
need for changes in policy is particularly critical and
unnecessary separation includes awareness-raising
where we believe we can make an important
and promoting reforms to care systems away from
contribution to leading that change. Our Child institutional towards family-based care, including
Protection Breakthrough is based on extensive through laws and policies that are in line with the
consultations and will continue to be our focus International Guidelines on Alternative Care.51 Providing
beyond the current strategy period. effective family strengthening and quality alternative
Evidence tells us that children are best protected care requires capacity-building and investment in
and cared for in a safe family-like environment, community-based care services and professional
ideally by their own families, but when that is not social workers.
possible, in a substitute family or other community- Our work to promote community and family-based
based alternative. Placing a child in an institution care and support for children affected by HIV and
should always be the last resort. This applies to all AIDS is another crucial component of family
contexts, including humanitarian disasters when strengthening. It will be supported by system-
children’s vulnerability increases. strengthening approaches that provide caregivers
with adequate support to meet their needs and
Without safe family-based care, children are at
those of their children. Our focus will be on
risk of ending up in harmful work or other forms
enhancing families’ resilience and their ability to
of exploitation, on the street or in institutional
overcome difficulties, through strengthened social
care. Young children in institutional care are
welfare systems that identify vulnerable families, link
more likely to experience poor health, physical
them to support and ensure that the required
underdevelopment, a deterioration in brain growth,
support has been provided. Encouraging efforts to
developmental delay and emotional attachment
ensure a robust para-social work system will be
disorders. Consequently, these children have
crucial to this area of work.
reduced intellectual, social and behavioural abilities
compared with those growing up in a family setting. Securing family reunification in humanitarian
crises involves ensuring that separated and
Keep Children Safe unaccompanied children are provided with family
Families possess the greatest potential for tracing and reunification services, in the best
interest of the child, so that children do not end up
protecting children from all forms of violence, and
in institutional care or being on the move, which
can empower children to protect themselves.50
could place them at risk of harm and/or
However, it is also recognised that families can
exploitation. Children at risk of separation will also
sometimes be dangerous places for children, since
receive preventive services. Our focus is on safe
violence, abuse and exploitation often take place
families – and family strengthening will also reduce
behind closed doors. The work on keeping children
the risks faced by children if an emergency does
safe will have a strong focus on addressing physical occur.
and humiliating punishment, notably through the
promotion of positive parenting/discipline,
awareness-raising and bans on corporal punishment.

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 SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

5. Approaches

“Understand that one person can do

something about violence but many
people can stop violence.”
Girls and boys during regional consultation in
Europe and Central Asia.52

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© Sebastian Rich - Save the Children
SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

5.1 Theory of Change

Save the Children’s Theory of Change is founded The Families First programme in Indonesia
on working in partnership with others to develop demonstrates key strategic elements of government
innovative programmes, provide a voice with and care system reform, moving from institutional to
for children, and use evidence to influence family-based care, with support from Save the
governments and other key actors to adopt the Children. The reform was initiated after Save the

Figure 5.1 Theory of Change

right policies and implement them at scale. We Children, UNICEF and the government of Indonesia
will continue to use this approach in our child conducted a survey on the situation of children
protection work. living in institutions, which revealed that almost
90% of these children had at least one living
Further details of the Theory of Change can be
parent.53 The government has adopted national
found in Annex 4.
guidelines on care, institutions have been regulated,
The two examples below demonstrate what the and the government is diverting financial resources
Theory of Change means in practice. They illustrate from institutions to family-based care. An innovative
critical components of our child protection family support centre has been piloted and there
breakthrough. are plans to connect community-based social
workers to professional government social workers

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 SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

trained by Save the Children. The programme is training for teachers and parents, in particular a
being piloted in one province and will be replicated non-violent approach to discipline, which teaches
in other provinces in the country. children and guides their behaviour. It is based on
research into effective parenting as well as
The Safe Families programme in the Philippines
children’s healthy development, and is founded on
shows an innovative approach towards making
child rights principles.
homes (and schools) safe for children by scaling-up
training on positive discipline54 and advocating for This training has now been scaled up and is about
legal reform. Children and their communities have to be incorporated into teacher training and family
been advocating against physical and humiliating support modules run by the government. A law
punishment since 2004 and Save the Children has, against corporal punishment is likely to be adopted
in collaboration with the University of Manitoba, by parliament soon.
developed and field-tested positive discipline

Theory of Change Indonesia: Families First Philippines: Safe Families

Be the voice National policy changes through Save the Children is recognised as the
National Standards of Care – Save voice on positive parenting. Children
the Children and the government and community members are ‘change
are leading a care reform in agents’ in preventing family violence and
Indonesia. This reform has been in advocating for laws and policies that
used globally as a good practice protect children in families and
model for care reforms. communities

Be the innovator Providing social services to families Constituencies of support for legal
in communities through the Child reform and changing public attitudes
and Family Support Centre and and practices. Positive discipline training
plan to connect community-level to social workers, teachers; and to
para-social work support to fathers, mothers, caregivers and children
professional Ministry Social through civil society organisations; family
Workers trained by Save the support
Children

Build partnerships Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare and

Association of Social Workers, Development, local government units,
Faith-based organisations, Ministry of Education, civil society
academia, civil society organisations and coalition with NGOs,
organisations, communities and communities, children, caregivers.
children Academia (University of Manitoba),
media and corporate sector

Achieve results Government policy change and the Ministries have requested Save the
at scale way family support services are Children support for geographic scale-up
delivered will result in sustainable of training on positive discipline to social
impact at scale – impacting over workers and teachers across all main
42 million people in Java islands. This model will inform global
roll out of positive discipline training.
Practice and policy impact on more than
25 million children.

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© Jane Hahn – Save the Children.

Capacity-building is crucial for realising the Theory The body of work on system-strengthening has
of Change. Save the Children builds the capacity of consistently highlighted the importance of
civil society actors, including child-led initiatives, to strengthening the interaction between community-
enable them to promote and advocate for child based child protection mechanisms and national
protection, as well as to hold to account those with child protection systems. It is evident that
responsibility for protecting children. We also build indigenous or spontaneous community-based child
the capacity of professionals working with children protection mechanisms, especially in emergency
so that they can better prevent, detect and report situations, has often been neglected. We therefore
violence against children. must do more to enhance our understanding of the
role of community mechanisms and how we can
We cultivate strategic partnerships and innovative
effectively support them.
collaborations with corporations that share our
vision of a better world for children. These efforts Our mapping of existing child protection systems,
enable us to increase our resources and the impact often collaboratively with other agencies, has
of our work for the benefit of children. Our proven to be a good entry point for building a
collaboration with IKEA to stop harmful child work relevant system for each context. The mapping
is an example of this. We also form partnerships includes identifying key actors and determining their
with religious leaders and we are active in a number capacity to prevent and respond to children’s right
of interagency collaborations around child to protection. But systems are dynamic and
protection. constantly changing so it is important to understand
the country context and cultural values, which will
5.2 Systems approach influence child protection work.

Save the Children believes that the building and Strengthening community-based and national child
strengthening of community-based mechanisms and protection systems – and the links between them –
national child protection systems represents a will continue to be a key approach to our child
holistic, inclusive, sustainable and well-coordinated protection work. We see children as actors in their
way to protect all children – while at the same time own protection and promote the meaningful
addressing the more specific needs of particular participation of children. We address discrimination
groups. Experience from the Asian Tsunami and poverty to reach the most vulnerable children
humanitarian response, for example, has shown that and we are increasingly focus on preventing
countries with pre-existing national child protection violence and promoting appropriate care by
systems were better able to protect children after strengthening families and family-based care.
the disaster occurred.
For further information, see Building rights-
Child protection is closely linked to other child based national child protection systems: a
welfare services that work with children, and more concept paper to support Save the Children’s
needs to be done to integrate child protection into work and David’s story: The role of national
health, education, justice and broader social welfare child protection systems.
services. These services need to be designed to
strengthen child protection and must never
undermine it.

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 © Save the Children.

6. Advocacy objectives to be achieved by 2015

Advocacy is an integral part of Save the Children´s d. The post-2015 framework integrates goals and
programs and we adopted the Child Protection targets that include an explicit focus on
Advocacy Strategy for 2010-201555. We improved protection for children, ideally with a
revised it to integrate four top advocacy objectives specific child protection goal.
that we want to achieve by 2015, to contribute
towards the child protection breakthrough: There are other advocacy objectives within the
child protection priority areas that are not included
a. Eight additional States ban physical and here. Please refer to their respective program
humiliating punishment against children in all strategies.
settings.
For existing child protection advocacy and
b. At least ten States adopt and implement laws communications tools, check OneNet and the
and policies that promote family and Resource Centre on Child Protection and Child
community-based care in line with the Rights Governance.
international guidelines for the alternative care
of children.
CPI Communications resources
c. In emergency situations States commit to For existing child protection advocacy and
provide coordinated assistance and support to communications tools, check OneNet here
unaccompanied and separated children, where and the Resource Centre on Child
relevant. Protection and Child Rights Governance.

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SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

7. Measuring impact

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is the systematic 4. Child protection policy change: the
and continual collection and analysis of information number of countries where one or more policy
about the progress of a project or programme over or legislative changes to improve children’s
time. It is vital for good planning and is linked to protection rights, in line with the priority areas,
organisational learning. Evaluation is an assessment have taken place in the last 12 months with the
at one point in time that can be carried out for support of Save the Children
different purposes, including verifying if objectives
5. Child protection funding: the level of
have been achieved, what impact the project or
expenditure for Save the Children’s child
programme has had, and how it can be improved.
protection programmes
A good M&E system is crucial to ensuring that our
programmes are evidence based and that only 6. The percentage of orphans and
effective and efficient programmes are scaled-up. vulnerable children (OVC) receiving
services that address priority needs:
Globally, the child protection sector suffers from a
this indicator will measure children under
lack of evidence, data and statistics. Many
18 years of age who have been identified
programmes are developed without a rigorous
(by programmes, families or communities)
evidence base. This is especially true for sensitive
as orphaned or vulnerable and are being
or hidden issues such as sexual abuse and
supported by an OVC programme through
exploitation. But there is also little evidence on
Save the Children, its partners or through
children without appropriate care – including
linkages with other partner services.57
children living on the streets, children on the move
and children living in institutions. As a response,
Improving the M&E of our child protection
each year Save the Children members and country
programmes, and promoting learning across
offices produce evaluations of our child protection
countries, is a key component of our global child
programmes, adding to the global evidence base on
protection strategy. In addition to supporting the
child protection.
monitoring of the key global indicators listed above,
Save the Children has put in place a robust the child protection strategy includes:
M&E system to monitor progress towards the
• the development of indicator menus for
achievement of Save the Children’s child protection
each of the four priority areas of the
goals. The key indicators that we track globally
strategy. These menus will support project
are:56
and programme M&E in country offices
1. Total reach: the number of children reached the provision of country-level and regional
•
directly and indirectly by our child protection child protection M&E training workshops
programmes
• the development of child protection M&E
2. Utilization of child protection services: tools and guidance manuals.
the proportion of children and caregivers in a
Save the Children is a member of the global child
12-month period who have utilized prevention
protection M&E reference group (CP MERG).
or response interventions delivered or
The group develops interagency best practice M&E
supported by Save the Children
tools that we will embed in our programmes.
3. Quality of child protection services:
All of our child protection monitoring and
the proportion of child protection prevention
evaluation resources can be found at the CPI M&E
and response services supported by Save the
page on OneNet.
Children which meet minimum quality
standards
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 SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

8. Fundraising

Save the Children invested over US$ 151 million to support child
protection programmes that reached more than 23 million children
and 37.5 million adults in 2012. But in order to reach our 2015
target of improving the lives of 21 million children and investing
US$ 250 million in child protection programmes,
we need to make increased efforts to fundraise
for child protection work.

© Genna Naccache –
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Save the Children.
SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

9. The role of the Child Protection Initiative

The Child Protection Initiative (CPI) is an internal In addition, Member-Led Task Groups have
mechanism for members to engage in key thematic been formed to develop thematic strategies, policy
areas to maximise the impact of working together. documents and programme tools. They also
It acts as a technical advisory and servicing body to provide capacity-building and support to members
Save the Children members and international and country offices in the implementation of their
programmes by providing thematic leadership, thematic strategies. The CPI Global Programme
expertise and a strategic framework for Manager leads a monitoring and evaluation task
programming, advocacy and communications. The group.
initiative is led by Save the Children Sweden with a
While core teams within the Global Initiatives do
Steering Group representing ten members. This
not fundraise themselves, they play an important
group provides strategic direction and leadership
role supporting country offices and members in
and consists of senior managers.
their fundraising efforts. They do this by bringing
The CPI has a small Core Team, including a together expertise and experience from across
director, programming, advocacy and the organisation and providing input on project
communication expertise (see the CPI’s full proposals and other relevant background
structure here). Regional representatives support information, as well as intelligence on which
country and regional offices as well as members to partners or donors have an interest in that specific
expand and strengthen their child protection thematic area.
portfolio through coordination, networking and a
As much as possible, the Global Initiatives share
knowledge management role. They facilitate
information on upcoming calls for proposals, for
capacity-building and advocacy, as well as the
example on OneNet and in targeted
implementation of the global indicators, and also
communications.
provide support in the development of country
offices’ strategies.

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© Karin Beate Nosterud – Save the Children.
 SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

Annexes

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© Glenna Gordon – Save the Children.
SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

Annex 1: Key Child Protection definitions

Child protection means measures and structures Corporal or physical and humiliating
to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, violence punishment of children58 refers to different
and exploitation affecting children. forms of behaviours – physical and emotional – by
adults which can cause damage to the development
Children without appropriate care are
of the child and violates the rights of the child,
children who are not receiving suitable, continuous
specifically their right to protection according to
and quality care, nurture and guidance at a physical,
Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the
emotional, social and psychological level from either
Child and its General Comment No.8.
their families or from other primary carers that are
meant to replace the family environment and are There are two categories of punishment that can
responsible for their well-being and development. occur separately or together:
This includes neglected and/or abused children in
• Corporal or physical punishment and the
their families, children living on the street, children
threat of it involves hitting (“smacking”,
affected by HIV and AIDS, children in institutions
“slapping”, “spanking”) children, with the
or other forms of poor quality alternative care, and
hand or with an implement – a whip, stick,
children who have become separated, either
belt, shoe, wooden spoon, etc. But it can
voluntarily or involuntarily, from their families,
also involve, for example, kicking, shaking
including children on the move, and those who are
or throwing children, scratching, pinching, biting,
at risk of requiring alternative care.
pulling hair or boxing ears, forcing children to
Children on the move means those children stay in uncomfortable positions, burning,
moving for a variety of reasons, voluntarily or scalding or forced ingestion.
involuntarily, within or between countries, with or
• Humiliating or other cruel or degrading
without their parents or other primary caregivers,
punishment of children takes various forms,
and whose movement might place them at risk (or
including psychological punishment. This includes
at an increased risk) of inadequate care, economic
punishment which belittles, humiliates,
or sexual exploitation, abuse, neglect and violence.
denigrates, scapegoats, threatens, scares or
‘Children on the move’ is an umbrella term that
ridicules the child.
brings together a series of categories of children to
highlight their common protection needs, including, National child protection systems require
for example: children who have been trafficked, States to recognise their ultimate responsibilities
children who migrate (eg, to pursue better life and human rights obligations to children in order to
opportunities, to look for work or education or to be effective, and consist of:
escape exploitative or abusive situations at home,
or because of other protection needs) children • laws and policies that protect children from
abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence and
displaced by conflict and natural disasters, and
respond in the best interest of the child when
children who live and work in the streets.
violations occur
Child protection in emergencies is the
• a central government coordination mechanism
prevention of and response to abuse, neglect, for child protection, bringing together central
exploitation of and violence against children in government departments, different provinces,
emergencies. An emergency is defined as ‘a situation central and local levels of government and civil
where lives, physical and mental well-being, or society
development opportunities for children are threatened
as a result of armed conflict, disaster or the breakdown • effective regulation and monitoring at all levels
of social or legal order, and where local capacity to of child protection standards, for instance, in
cope is exceeded or inadequate.’ childcare institutions and schools
• a committed workforce with relevant
competencies and mandates
• mechanisms that bring perpetrators to justice.
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Annex 2: Save the Children’s Overall Global Strategy 2010-2015

INVEST AND TEST CORE ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY

TO BUILD POSITION
20% Basis for significant growth of funding, campaigning and differentiation
65%
a • Adolescent non-formal a • basic education d Protect and prevent
education/initiatives – in conflict areas violence against:
• Urban basic education – In fragile states and • Children without
poorest countries appropriate care
d • Child labour
• Prevent physical and • Early childhood • Children affected by
humiliating punishment development armed conflicts

e • Disaster risk reduction

b1 • Maternal and newborn
health e • General/relief
• Child health management
• Child protection
g • Livelihoods in support b2 • Newborn and child
• Education
of nutrition nurition
• Child health & nutrition
• Prevent child hunger

a • Secondary education c • Convention on the Rights • Support for affected

of the Child monitoring children (OVC) without
f
• Strengthening national adequate care
systems and build
b • Adolescent health awareness and capacity • Prevention of HIV/AIDS

a • Basic education for ethnic minorities

d • Harmful traditional • Basic education in developing and transition countries
practices d • Children in conflict with the law
• Child trafficking • Children sexually exploited and abused
e • Camp management e • Non-food items and shelter
• Housing reconstruction
f • Care for infected children by HIV/AIDS
• Prevention of mother-to-child infection

“CASE BY CASE” OFFER MAINTAIN AND CAPITALISE ON EXPERTISE

TO BUILD POSITION
Depending on needs and opportunities
5% 10%
a Education c Child rights governance f HIV/AIDS Note: Size and
POTENTIAL % number of items
OF GLOBAL b1 Health d Child protection g Livelihoods not related to
EXPENDITURES
target volume
b2 Nutrition e Humanitarian of activity

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 Annex 3: Child Protection Breakthrough Results Framework

Child Protection Breakthrough Goal

All children thrive in a safe family environment and no child is placed in harmful institutions.

OBJECTIVES

1. Keep children safe 2. Strengthen families and prevent 3. Securing family reunification in
unnecessary separation humanitarian crises
Children grow up in a safe family
environment free from harm caused by Children without appropriate care benefit Separated and unaccompanied children are
violence, exploitation, from quality care either in their own provided with adequate family tracing and
abuse or neglect families or, when necessary, in family and reunification services in the best interest of
community-based alternatives the child, and children at risk of separation
receive preventive support services

KEY OUTCOMES

PUBLIC ATTITUDES POLICY PRACTICE PUBLIC ATTITUDES POLICY PRACTICE PUBLIC ATTITUDES POLICY PRACTICE

1. 1. Safe 1.2. Ban 1.3. Child 2.1 Families and 2.2. Laws and 2.3 Direct 3.1 Enabling 3.2 Child 3.3 Coordination
communities violence protection family-based care policies promote service provision families to be protection of child
and families systems the first option family-based care together policies protection
States ban physical Quality family services
Communities and and humiliating Parents and Children, families, States endorse strengthening and Communities States and partners
families no longer punishment against caregivers practise States, and laws and policies that alternative care recognise the risk of develop and Through effective
accept physical and children in all settings positive discipline communities promote family-based services including family separation in implement coordination Save the
humiliating understand the risks care in line with the trained community- emergencies and agreements to Children and
punishment and consequences of International Guidelines based and know how to provide coordinated partners ensure that
children being on Alternative Care professional social prevent it through assistance and timely, adequate
separated from their workers contribute family tracing and support to services are provided
families and promote towards the reunification and unaccompanied and to at-risk
the benefits of family- prevention of other relevant separated children or separated and
based care unnecessary activities unaccompanied
separation children without
delay, following
appropriate best
interest assessments.
 SAV E T H E CH ILDR E N ’S C H I L D PR OT E C T I O N S T R A T E G Y 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

Annex 4: Key components of the Theory of Change

The following are the four key components of the Theory of Change that Save the Children uses in its
child protection work.

Being the voice for and with children: Achieving results at scale:
• Increasing opportunities for children to speak • Scaling-up preventive and remedial evidence-
out on policies and actions most relevant to based and cost-effective programmes through
them social mobilisation, partnerships and effective
national and community-based child protection
• Influencing attitudes, policies and practices to
systems
challenge the social acceptance of violence,
based on the knowledge and experience we • Promoting the use of new technologies and
have gained from project implementation, corporate social responsibility for scaling-up
research and analysis
• Mobilising and advocating for resources,
sustainable policies and accountability
Building partnerships:
concerning the implementation of children’s • Building partnerships to promote the right of
rights to protection every child to be protected from abuse, neglect,
exploitation and violence and enhancing the
capacity of civil society to advocate effectively
Being the innovator:
• Coordinating and collaborating with children’s
• Developing and collating evidence-based own initiatives, local partners and other
solutions that can be replicated by governments organisations that can disseminate and scale-up
and other organisations across the world evidence-based child protection work at all
levels
• Strengthening the capacity of our partner
organisations to design and deliver child • Mobilising for increased funding for child
protection programmes and promote new protection work, as well as for effective
technologies as a learning tool communication to ensure wider understanding
of why child protection is a key component of
• Promoting cross-regional learning and using
children’s rights
knowledge management to stimulate innovation

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Annex 5: References

• Child Protection Global Initiative, 2010 Annual Report • Save the Children, Our Resources To Protect.
Child Protection Global Initiative, 2011 Annual A mapping of Save the Children’s human and financial
•
Report for Save the Children Sweden Child Protection resources 2012, May 2012

Child Protection Global Initiative, Child Protection in • Save the Children, Strategy 2010-2015, Appendix 2,
•
the post-2015 development agenda. Thematic think Theory of Change
piece by Save the Children, for internal use only, Final • Save the Children, Thematic Leadership Group, Action
Version, 31 August 2012 Sheet, 3 September 2012
• Child Protection Initiative, 2011 Annual Plan • Save the Children, Thematic Leadership Group, Draft
Child Protection Initiative, 2012 Annual Plan Terms of Reference, 6 September 2012
•
Child Protection Initiative, Breakthrough Logframe, • Save the Children, Thematic Leadership Group,
•
9 October 2012 Financial Data Scope of Work. Draft as of 5 September
2012
• Child Protection Initiative, Child Protection Global
Strategy Results Framework, 13 September 2012 • Save the Children, Thematic Leadership Group,
Thematic Staff Development, 2012
• Child Protection Initiative, Child Protection Total Reach
Analysis 2009, 2010 and 2011, August 2012 • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, 2009-
2015, High Level Business Plan
• NGO Advisory Council for Follow-up to the UN Study
on Violence against Children, Five Years On: A global • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Advocacy
update on violence against children, forthcoming Strategy 2010-2015

Save the Children Association, Save the Children • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Advocacy
•
International, Board Meeting 27-28 September 2012, Strategy 2010-2015, Draft 2
Geneva, Global Initiatives and Thematic Breakthroughs • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Building
Save the Children, Child Protection Breakthrough and rights-based national child protection systems: a
•
the signature programme proposals, 2012 concept paper to support Save the Children’s work

Save the Children, City Kids. Urbanization and its • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Priority
•
consequences for children’s right to be protected from Area strategies 2010-2015: an overview
abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. A Save the • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Priority
Children Discussion Paper, May 2012 Area strategy 2010-2015: Children without Appropriate
Save the Children, Communication Brief. Draft as of Care
•
6 September 2012 • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Steering
Save the Children, CPI Meeting on Sexual Violence Group meeting. Melbourne, 8-9 February 2012, Agenda
•
against Children in Emergencies, Copenhagen, Item 5, Proposal on process for elaboration of a revised
26-28 June 2012 (Draft) CPI Global Strategy

Save the Children, Fundraising For Child Protection. • Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, Taking
•
A first mapping, Draft (2012) action against all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation
and violence
• Save the Children, Getting it Right for Children.
A practitioners’ guide to child rights programming, 2007 • Save the Children, Education Global Initiative, Moving
ahead on education. A focused strategy for achieving
• Save the Children, Global Strategy on the Prohibition our education goals 2012-2015
and Elimination of Physical and Humiliating Punishment
(PHP) of children, 2012 • Child Protection Initiative, A snapshot of achievements
June 2011 – May 2012
• Save the Children, Keeping Children Out of Harmful
Institutions. Why we should be investing in family-based
care, 2009

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Notes

1 The phrase ‘abuse, neglect violence and exploitation’ is also referred to as ‘all forms of violence’ or ‘violence’ elsewhere in
this document.
2 UN Study on Violence against Children, 2006: [Link]
3 Save the Children International defines a breakthrough as “… a remarkable shift from the current trend and a sustainable change in
the way the world treats children, as experienced by the majority of affected children in the world. This kind of change is only
achieved over several years, utilizing our full Theory of Change in partnership with others.”
4 Figures have been revised using 2012 total reach as a baseline.
5 Ibid.
6 The Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Response can be found here: [Link]
7 Figures have been revised using 2012 total reach as a baseline.
8 Ibid.
9 The Child Protection Initiative (CPI) developed a Business Plan (Save the Children, Child Protection Initiative, 2009-2015, High Level
Business Plan) in 2009, aimed at guiding and providing strategic directions to Save the Children’s activities on child protection for the
period 2010-2015 (current Save the Children International’s strategy). However, since then many changes have occurred within Save
the Children, including in relation to the Global Initiatives (GIs). In particular, the CPI has witnessed a reconsideration of its initial
mandate and way in which it operates, based on nearly three years of experience. As part of the planned mid-term global revision of
the organisation’s global strategy, the CPI – like the other GIs – has been invited by Save the Children International to revise its
original business plan and develop a child protection strategy for Save the Children members and country offices, covering
programme, advocacy and fundraising for the period 2013-2015.
10 Page 5, UN World Report on Violence Against Children, 2006:
[Link]
11 Report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children:
[Link]
12 Olara Otunnu, ‘Special Comment’ on Children and Security, Disarmament Forum, No. 3, United Nations Institute for Disarmament
Research, Geneva, 2002, pp. 3-4.
13 Save the Children, 2007
14 WHO estimates, quoted in UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Innocenti Digest. Changing a Harmful Social Convention: Female
Genital Mutilation/Cutting, 2005.
15 UNICEF, Early Marriage. A Harmful Traditional Practice. A Statistical Exploration, 2005.
16 UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2009, UNICEF, New York, December 2008, p. 133.
17 P S Pinheiro, World Report on Violence against Children, UNICEF: New York, 2006
18 The worst forms of child labour, including slavery, prostitution and pornography, illicit activities, and work likely to harm children’s
health, safety or morals, as defined in International Labour Organization Convention No. 182, International Labour Organization
(2010) Accelerating Action against Child Labour, p. 5.
19 UNICEF, Child Protection from Violence, Exploitation and Abuse. A statistical snapshot, June 2011.
20 Child protection in the context of HIV and AIDS: Responses, Research and Recommendations. ICASA Conference, Addis Ababa,
December 2011, [Link]
21 Methodologies varied per country but generally direct costs included hospitalisation, chronic health problems, mental health costs,
costs incurred by the child welfare system, law enforcement, and costs of the judicial system. Indirect costs included special education,
mental health and healthcare – not directly resulting from abuse or neglect, juvenile delinquency, lost work productivity, adult
criminality, early intervention, and adult homelessness. See Prevent Child Abuse America, Estimated Annual Cost of Child Abuse and
Neglect, April 2012.
22 Ibid.
23 Every Child Counts, The nature of economic costs from child abuse and neglect in New Zealand – Summary report, August 2010.
24 Australian Childhood Foundation and Child Abuse Prevention Research, The Cost of Child Abuse in Australia, November 2008.

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25 UNICEF, Child Protection from Violence, Exploitation and Abuse. A statistical snapshot, June 2011.
26 They serve as the basis to gather evidence on violations and include: Killing or maiming of children; Recruitment or use of children as
soldiers; Sexual violence against children; Attacks against schools or hospitals; Denial of humanitarian access for children; Abduction of
children.
27 UNICEF, Progress for Children, A Report Card on Child Protection, September 2008, p. 37.
28 The full strategy for the children without appropriate care priority area is available on Save the Children’s OneNet at:
[Link]
29 Save the Children, Keeping Children Out of Harmful Institutions. Why we should be investing in family-based care, 2009, p.9.
30 Figures in this section have been revised using 2012 total reach as a baseline.
31 Csaky, C (2009) Keeping Children out of Harmful Institutions: Why we should be investing in Family-Based Care, Save the Children.
32 Nelson, C., Zeanah, C. and Fox, N. (May 2009) The Effects of Early Deprivation on Brain Behavioural Development: Bucharest Early
Intervention Project. Oxford University Press.
33 Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children:
[Link]
34 [Link]
35 For an example of Save the Children’s active involvement in the Inter-Agency Group on Children on the Move, see the joint
statement submitted by the Group to the 2012 Day of General Discussion hosted by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child:
[Link]
36 The full strategy of this priority area is available on Save the Children’s OneNet at:
[Link]
37 NGO Advisory Council for Follow-up to the UN Study on Violence against Children, Five Years On: A global update on violence
against children, forthcoming, p. 33.
38 From ‘Untold Atrocities: The stories of Syria’s children’:
[Link]
39 Figures in this section have been revised using 2012 total reach as a baseline.
40 From Call for action, Working with child soldiers in West Africa, by The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and Save the
Children Sweden, 2006. [Link]
41 [Link]
42 UN Minimum Standards on Child Protection in Humanitarian Action:
[Link]
43 UN Study on Violence against Children, p. 47. [Link]
44 Figures in this section have been revised using 2012 total reach as a baseline.
45 Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, Prohibit all corporal punishment of children – progress and delay,
October 2012 [Link]
46 Child disciplinary practices at home, evidence from a range of Low-and Middle-Income Countries, UNICEF Division of Policy and
Practice, 2010
47 NGO Advisory Council for Follow-up to the UN Study on Violence against Children, Five Years On: A global update on violence
against children, forthcoming, p. 27.
48 ILO (2010), Accelerating action against child labour. Report of the Director-General, International Labour Conference, 99th
session, 2010
49 Available at: [Link]
50 See Pinheiro, P. (2006) World Report on Violence Against Children, UN (p. 47); CRC (2011) General Comment No.13, Article 19:
The right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence.
51 Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children:
[Link]
52 Save the Chidlren (2006) ACT NOW! Some highlights from children’s participation in the Regional Consultations, p. 12 for the UN
Secretary-General’s study on Violence against Children.
53 Martin, Florence (2009) Changing the paradigm of children’s care and protection in Indonesia, Save the Children.

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54 The positive parenting/discipline approach has been developed in collaboration with the University of Manitoba and will be rolled out
globally within domestic and international programmes.
55 The CPI Advocacy Strategy can be found here:
[Link]
[Link]'. It is based on the two original priority areas only (children without appropriate care and child protection in emergencies)
and therefore it will integrate new policy changes for the breakthrough, working children and physical and humiliating punishment
when those strategies have been finalised.
56 Save the Children International is rolling out a set of 16 global indicators that cover the core strategic areas in which the organisation
works. Since 2011, all country offices managed by Save the Children International have been required to report against these
indicators annually. Further information on the global indicators is available on Save the Children’s OneNet at:
[Link]
57 Discussions are ongoing about whether this indicator will remain a separate global indicator or whether it will be merged into other
existing child protection global indicators. A formal decision will be communicated across Save the Children later in 2013, as part of
the 2014 planning process.
58 The definition of physical and humiliating punishment used by Save the Children is from the UNCRC General Comment No.8 (2006).

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© Colin Crowley-Save the Children. 39

WE ARE the world’s leading independent organisation for children.

OUR VISION is a world in which every child attains the right to

survival, protection, development and participation.

OUR MISSION is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world

treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Child Protection Initiative

May 2013
[Link]
cpi@[Link]