Child protection

Overview, Globally, the number of children and young people engaged in migration is dramatically increasing. Children and young people move within and between countries in varying circumstances, both voluntarily and involuntarily. A wide range of interlinked factors—including economic, socio-political and environmental factors—influence decisions on how,…,   Goal, Despite significant data on migration in general, little exists on the movement of children and young people specifically. Child-sensitive research is essential, not only to understand how the international community can better protect the rights and well-being of children on the move, but also to learn about migration journeys from children…,   Approach, UNICEF Innocenti builds the evidence base on effective strategies to protect the rights of children and young people who migrate or are displaced through mixed methods research. The work is structured across three pillars: Understanding the drivers, decision making and experiences of children on the move Protection and well-being during transit…, Related reports, Related news and stories

The Disrupting Harm project was established to generate high-quality evidence on technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse of children. It is a research project conducted in partnership with ECPAT International and INTERPOL , funded by the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children . Together, we have developed a new research…, Country reports and briefs

Parent and caregiver support programmes are in a unique position to reduce family violence — specifically, violent discipline by parents or caregivers and intimate partner violence (IPV), the most common forms of violence experienced by children and women, respectively. Both types of violence often co-occur and have long-term consequences for…

Prospects for Children in 2024: Cooperation in a Fragmented World is the latest edition of the Global Outlook, a series of reports produced each year by UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, which look to the key trends affecting children and young people over the following 12 months and beyond., As we enter 2024, the world stands at a pivotal juncture. We can choose a path marked by increased global collaboration – a path that embraces innovation, knowledge sharing, policy transfer, and equitable growth. Or, there's a different course that could be taken, one which might entail less unity and a more protectionist approach, potentially…, 1. Geopolitical shifts and the risk of conflict may threaten children’s survival and well-being – but avenues for accountability and cooperation hold promise., In 2024, major powers will continue competing to expand their military, political, economic, and technological influence globally, including within multilateral institutions. Meanwhile, small and middle powers, including many in the Global South, are distancing themselves from confrontation between the major powers by forging new, flexible…, 2. Economic fragmentation threatens families’ livelihoods, children’s development and youth employment – but economic solidarity, market collaboration and investing in future skills can safeguard children’s rights and futures., Economic fragmentation, often driven by geopolitical interests and strategic considerations, is projected to widen disparities between nations in 2024. This unravelling of global economic integration threatens to undermine years of prosperity, progress, and innovation. It also adds fiscal pressure at a time when child poverty is rising in many…, 3. A fragmented multilateral system is not delivering on key issues for children – but it has a chance to reset its course in 2024 through global governance and financing reforms., The year 2024 will be pivotal for addressing a fragmented multilateral system that is failing on issues such as peace, security, climate change, financing for developing countries and the enforcement of normative standards – all of which can have an impact on children and their rights. Many countries, especially those in the Global South, believe…, 4. Developing economies still face structural inequities in the international financial architecture, limiting their ability to invest in children – but reforms to lending approaches and new technologies offer hope., Structural inequities in international financing will continue to limit developing countries’ investments in children in 2024. Excessive debt burdens, high remittance costs, overreliance on unpredictable economic monetary policies, and lack of voice in financial governance penalize poorer states. Debt crises triggered by these factors hurt…, 5. Global democracy will face unprecedented risks presented by disinformation and higher levels of political violence – but positive forces, including those led by children and youth, may still reverse the democratic decline., Democratic backsliding and youth dissatisfaction with democracy have been unfolding for years. But in 2024, as many nations face critical elections, two concerning trends emerge. First, advances in the digital technology for large language models and generative AI have introduced dangerous new disinformation capabilities that can create convincing…, 6. Fast-tracking transition to green energy is reshaping critical mineral and labour markets – if managed responsibly, cooperatively and justly, it can benefit children., In 2024, the accelerated transition to green energy will continue. This transition will be driven by volatility in energy markets, growth in the deployment of clean energy technology and policy imperatives like the development of new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). A faster shift to green energy brings significant benefits to children…, 7. El Niño, mosquito-borne diseases and water scarcity threaten children’s health and well-being – but greater collaboration, holistic programming and technological innovation can mitigate the negative impacts and protect children., Throughout 2024, climate change will continue to pose many threats to children’s health and nutrition. Three key forces stand out: the continuation of El Niño; the rise in outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases due to climate change; and water scarcity. The 2024 El Niño could be even hotter and more dangerous to people and the planet than in 2023.…, 8. Potential impacts of unchecked technologies spark fear and concern for children’s well-being – but proactive policy and global digital cooperation can place children at the centre of responsible design and regulation., The digital environment continues to shape children’s lives. Advances such as artificial intelligence (AI) bring new opportunities for children's learning, health care and development. Because new technology also poses risks for children, striking a regulatory balance will be a 2024 priority for three main reasons: First, apprehension about the…, Prospects for Children: Cooperation in a Fragmented World 2 0 2 4 G L O B A L O U T L O O K This document is interactive and designed for digital viewing. Please consider the environment and refrain from printing. Eight trends for 2024 Geopolitical shifts and the risk of conflict Economic fragmentation A fragmented multilateral system Structural…

While reducing children’s exposure to violence in the family requires working with individuals and families, communities, services, and systems to change attitudes, behaviours, and norms, this four-part evidence brief series intentionally highlights parenting programmes. In many communities, parenting programmes are already reaching parents and…

This work is part of UNICEF's AI for children AI for Children project .  4 minute read We invited governments and companies to pilot test  UNICEF's Policy Guidance on AI for Children  and openly share how it was used, and what worked and what did not. Real experiences from the field can inform and improve future versions of the guidance as well as…, Case studies, SomeBuddy Cover Image CrimeDetector: SomeBuddy, The CrimeDetector system, developed by the Finnish start-up SomeBuddy, helps support children in Finland and Sweden aged 7–18 who have potentially experienced online harassment. When children report incidents, such as cyberbullying, the system automatically analyzes the case using natural language processing and provides tailored legal and…, Helsinki University Hospital Cover Image Milli chatbot: Helsinki University Hospital, The psychiatry department at Helsinki University Hospital has developed Milli, an AI-powered chatbot on Mentalhub.fi, which uses natural language processing to connect users in Finland with helpful mental health information and medical providers. Milli was created through the multi-year work of interdisciplinary experts and practitioners,…, Imìsí 3D cover image Imìsí 3D: AutismVR, AutismVR is a virtual reality game developed by the Nigerian-based start-up, Imìsí 3D, alongside a team of interdisciplinary experts, to help young users and adults simulate interactions with children affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The game, which utilizes AI techniques, is designed for non-autistic young users and adults, notably…, Hello Baby thumbnail image Hello Baby: Allegheny County Department of Human Services, The Allegheny County Department of Human Services developed Hello Baby, an AI-driven early-childhood maltreatment prevention initiative, with the aim to more efficiently address families’ complex needs, improve children’s outcomes, and maximize child and family well-being, safety and security. Whenever a child is born in Allegheny County, the goal…, H&M Group cover image Responsible AI Framework: H&M Group, The fashion retailer, H&M Group, is increasingly relying on AI capabilities to help improve its supply chains, benefit customers and reach its sustainability goals. In order to do so ethically, the company's Responsible AI team developed a framework that rests on nine key Responsible AI Principles. The Principles are practically applied…, UNICEF-Global-Insight-HRI-JP-JRC-Cover-2021 Honda Research Institute Japan & European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Haru is a prototype robot that aims to stimulate the cognitive development, creativity, problem-solving and collaborative skills of children aged 6 to 18. Researchers from the Honda Research Institute Japan and European Commission, Joint Research Centre worked with a global consortium of experts with knowledge in the fields of AI, robotics, ethics…, UNICEF-Global-Insight-Alan-Turing-Institute-Cover Understanding AI ethics and safety - A guide for the public sector: The Alan Turing Institute, The Alan Turing Institute is updating and expanding its public policy guide Understanding artificial intelligence ethics and safety , to give public sector employees a better practical understanding of how to design responsible AI for children. This capacity building effort aims to formulate ethical considerations to support the development of AI…, UNICEF-Global-Insight-AI-Sweden-Cover-2021 Policy for child-centric AI for the cities of Lund, Malmö and Helsingborg: AI Sweden, AI Sweden, Lund University, aiRikr Innovation and Mobile Heights worked with the Swedish municipalities of Helsingborg, Lund and Malmö, to evaluate UNICEF’s policy guidance against AI-related projects in these three cities. These projects included applying child-centred AI to an AI chatbot companion for preschoolers, translating child-centred AI…

The fluidity of children’s attitudes, preferences and identity, along with the lower capacity of younger children to make informed decisions and have full agency presents unique challenges to children’s data security and privacy. While data collection and processing now underpin many health, education and social services used for and by children,…, Read the Manifesto, Analysis and insight, Working group, We are grateful for the ongoing input of our working group members who are helping to shape the Data Governance Manifesto, Lindsey Barrett, Georgetown Law, Lindsey Barrett is a staff attorney and teaching fellow at Communications and Technology Law Clinic at Georgetown Law, where she represents public interest clients on privacy and telecommunications matters before the FTC and FCC, including children's privacy. Before joining CLTC, she was a fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum, with prior…, Monica Bulger, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, Dr. Monica Bulger studies children’s data privacy and advises policy both nationally and globally. She is a Senior Fellow at the Future of Privacy Forum where she conducts national interviews of families, school staff, and state and federal privacy officers. At the Data & Society Research Institute, Monica published a primer on personalized…, Heather Burns, Open Rights Group, Heather Burns is an independent tech policy and regulation specialist from Glasgow, Scotland. She works with clients across the tech policy, digital rights, privacy, and games sectors on a range of UK and EU legislative and regulatory issues and represents digital professionals in Westminster and in Brussels. She also focuses extensively on Brexit…, Jasmina Byrne, UNICEF, Office of Global Insight and Policy, Jasmina Byrne is Head of Policy in UNICEF’s Office of Global Insight and Policy, an internal think tank that investigates issues with implications for children, equips the organization to more effectively shape the global discourse, and prepares it for the future by scanning the horizon for frontier issues and ways of working. Jasmina has over 20…, Jeff Chester, Center for Digital Democracy, Jeff Chester is Executive Director of the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), a Washington, DC non-profit organization. CDD is one of the leading U.S. NGOs advocating for citizens, consumers and other stakeholders on digital privacy and consumer protections online. Founded in 1991, CDD (then known as the Center for Media Education) led the…, Emma Day, UNICEF, Emma Day is a human rights lawyer, specializing in children’s rights. Emma started out her career with VSO in Rwanda in 1999, soon after the genocide. She also lived and worked for several years in Kenya, Thailand, and Indonesia, where she worked on a range of human rights issues for the Open Society Foundation, the Data & Society Research…, Steven Feldstein, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Steven Feldstein is the holder of the Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs and an associate professor at Boise State University. He is also a nonresident fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program. Previously, he served as a deputy assistant secretary in the bureau of…, Urs Gasser, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Dr. Urs Gasser is the Executive Director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and a Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School. His research and teaching focus on information law, policy, and society issues and the changing role of academia in the digitally networked age. At Berkman Klein, he leads the AI…, Jay Harman, formerly 5Rights, Jay Harman is the Policy Lead at the 5Rights Foundation, which advocates for a digital environment that caters for children and young people by design and default. He was previously Campaigns Manager at Humanists UK, leading on children’s rights and education issues, before working as a Senior Policy and Research Officer at Barnardo's focusing on…, Pedro Hartung, Alana Institute, Pedro Hartung is a lawyer and researcher on Children's Rights and the Child and Consumerism Program's Coordinator at Alana Institute/Brazil, focused on children's digital rights. He is a professor at FGV-SP in Advocacy and Social Transformation. PhD in Public Law from University of São Paulo and a visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School and at…, Malavika Jayaram, Digital Asia Hub, Malavika Jayaram is the inaugural Executive Director of Digital Asia Hub, a Hong Kong-based independent research think-tank incubated by Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, where she is also a Faculty Associate. A technology lawyer, she practiced law at Allen & Overy, London, and was Vice President and Technology Counsel…, Sean McDonald, Digital Public, Sean McDonald builds governance for technology and technology for governance. He is the co-founder of Digital Public, which helps communities protect and govern digital systems. He is a lawyer and the CEO of FrontlineSMS. Sean is a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation, a Research Fellow at Duke’s Center on Law &…, Linda Raftree, Independent Consultant, Linda Raftree is an independent consultant focused on the ethical use of technology and digital data in development, humanitarian, and human rights programs. Current projects include research on potential harms introduced by digital programming in migration settings; enhancing data governance for children, and improving inclusion in digital…, Nanjira Sambuli, Researcher, Policy Analyst and Advocacy Strategist, Nanjira Sambuli is a researcher, policy analyst and advocacy strategist interested in and working on understanding the intersection of ICT adoption with governance, media, innovation, entrepreneurship and culture, with a keen focus on gender implications. Nanjira has led policy advocacy on digital equality at the World Wide Web Foundation and…, Caroline Sinders, Convocation Design, Caroline Sinders is a machine-learning-design researcher and artist. She works at the intersections of natural language processing, artificial intelligence, abuse, online harassment, and politics in digital, conversational spaces. Sinders is the founder of Convocation Design + Research, an agency focusing on the intersections of machine learning,…, Steven Vosloo, UNICEF, Office of Global Insight and Policy, Steven Vosloo is the digital policy specialist for UNICEF’s Office of Global Insight and Policy. He is a technology and innovation specialist, with particular experience in digital learning, inclusion and youth in developing countries. Previously, he was with UNESCO where he developed guidelines on how technology can be better designed for youth…, Andrew Young, The GovLab, Andrew Young is the Knowledge Director at The GovLab, where he leads research efforts focusing on the impact of technology on public institutions. Among the grant-funded projects he has directed are the development of a set of principles and practices for responsible handling of children’s data; a global assessment of the impact of opening…

Every child has the right to be safe from harm. Yet, millions of children around the world experience violence, exploitation and abuse in their homes, schools and communities – in the places where they should be most protected. Children uprooted by emergencies such as conflict and disaster are among the most vulnerable. Separated from their…, Related projects, Related reports, Related news, ideas and articles

This evidence-to-policy brief is based on a rapid evidence assessment of the effectiveness of social and behaviour change (SBC)-informed interventions to reduce both violence against children and intimate partner violence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is intended as a user-friendly overview for anyone with an interest in learning…

The digital environment is largely unregulated and might expose children to age-inappropriate or potentially harmful content. There has been particular concern about children’s exposure to hate messages and violent images online and how this affects their well-being and rights. Efforts to mitigate exposure to such content are gaining momentum but…

Progress towards eliminating child labour stalled for the first time in 20 years from 2016 to 2020. This slowdown puts at risk the international community’s efforts to eliminate child labour by 2025. Action is needed. Child Work and Child Labour: The impact of educational policies and programmes in low- and middle-income countries is a rapid…

Despite gaps in some parts of the continent, the number of young people across Africa who use the internet increases every year. This increase in internet availability is already having some positive impacts in terms of creating jobs and reducing poverty, which is necessary to meet the needs of a fast-growing population. At the same time,…