What is Child Protection?

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment - somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting or by failing to act to prevent significant harm to a child. 

Child protection means protecting a child from abuse or neglect, which may cause significant harm.   

Everyone has a part to play to make sure all children are safe and the best way of doing this is to prevent abuse or neglect from taking place.

Prevention, therefore, has to be a priority for us all, it is important that we all act early when there is a concern that a child may be at risk of abuse, neglect and harm.

In this section:

What is child abuse?

Online child sexual abuse

Adult survivors of child abuse

Child Sexual Exploitation

How to report child abuse or neglect