A Systems Approach to Child Protection

Over recent years there has been a growing recognition of the limitations of a fragmented approach to child protection, which traditionally focused on specific child protection issues.The report from the UN Secretary’s Study on Violence Against Children recommended that ‘all States develop a multi-faceted and systematic framework in response to violence against children which is integrated into national planning processes.’1 This was re-emphasised in the Machel Study 10-Year Strategic Review,2 which recommended the development of national systems and capacity building to protect children against violence, exploitation and abuse following the departures of international actors in emergency and conflict-affected situations. Since then, numerous agencies, such as UNICEF, Save the Children and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugrees (UNHCR), have been investing considerable energy and resources in defining and implementing a systems approach to child protection.3 This paper explains World Vision’s understanding of a child protection system and a systems approach to child protection. While the perspectives in this paper are similar to and influenced by those articulated by other organisations, this paper has also sought to reflect World Vision’s unique identity and opportunities. It is hoped, therefore, that this paper will contribute to the ongoing fruitful dialogue between agencies, organisations, governments and other stakeholders about a systems approach to child protection.