Many children suffer from violence, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and exclusion. Many, especially girls, are at risk of physical and sexual abuse at home and in school.
Plan works with marginalised, socially-excluded groups, whose rights are systematically violated, and whose living conditions make them the most vulnerable.
Our child protection work includes:
- Helping to protect child labourers, children with disabilities, children affected by conflict and disaster, street children, and children who have been trafficked or are at risk of being trafficked.
- Improving understanding of children and young people’s rights, and working with governments to strengthen legislation that protects children.
- Supporting communities to raise awareness about child protection, and to campaign against tolerance of sexual abuse, including organising local protection networks, encouraging the reporting of abuse, and monitoring the enforcement of laws guaranteeing protection.
- Working with communities to change attitudes to harmful practices such as female genital cutting and early and forced marriage.
Last year, Plan organised 4,671 campaigns and events to promote children’s rights, and provided training for 1,663 professionals on child protection issues.