Every Child Has the Right to Be Safe
Every child has the right to grow up in an environment where they feel safe and secure. They have the right to develop, to play and to learn in an environment that is free from harm. Unfortunately for millions of children, the world is a very dangerous place to live.
Children are facing dangerous situations caused by violent wars, conflicts and natural disasters, and are victims of violence, exploitation and abuses – including sexual exploitation, child trafficking, child labour and harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage.
The impact of being exposed to these kinds of dangers can be devastating to a child’s future development.
What Does UNICEF Do?
Alongside our supporters, UNICEF is committed to protecting the rights of every child. We have programs and strategies specifically designed to help protect children from different types of dangerous situations.
We work with families and children impacted by conflicts, wars and natural disasters to set up support services to help them; we work with governments to strengthen national child protection systems, and we work directly with communities to help educate them on practices and attitudes to violence that are harmful to children.
Child Labour
Million Children are Engaged in Child Labour Throughout the World
Yudah and Ence’s Story
In October of 2018, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and was followed by a tsunami with waves of up to 6m high. Yudah and Ence’s home and village were completely destroyed. They became separated from their family and are both receiving treatment in one of UNICEF’s child-friendly space.
During emergency situations, children become especially vulnerable to danger as they can get lost or separated from their families in the chaos. UNICEF responds immediately to protect children by setting up child-friendly spaces in the aftermath of an emergency.
These spaces provide a safe place for children can play and be kept safe while staff work to identify, trace and reunite children with their families. Children also receive specialist treatment from UNICEF staff who are experts in supporting children recover from the trauma they have gone through.
