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introduction
To follow up the CAN study, World Vision
has reviewed approaches to protecting
children at risk in five Asian countries, and
conducted further analysis to enable the
agency to determine what are effective
programs and policies for preventing and
addressing this abuse and neglect.
The research is framed by the principles
expressed in the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as the most
recognised international expression of
essential foundations for sustaining and
progressing human life. These are simply
expressed in the “four baskets” approach to
groupings of children’s rights:
• survival
• development
• protection
• participation
In an effort to better understand practical
strategies and tools based on experience
from the field, the Children at Risk study
identifies “good practice” against a range of
social, cultural, economic and political factors.
The focus of this report is on examples of
both policy and programming measures that
can promote protection for children at risk of
violence, exploitation or neglect in poor
communities, and move us closer to “a world
fit for children”.
The report includes examples of resources
developed in the field, and experiences
described herein can assist with program
planning in other contexts. Examples are given
of practice that has worked at community,
provincial and national levels to promote the
best interests of the child. Observations that
emerge across the five countries as to
elements of effective practice, as well as
recurring challenges or limitations, are
described. This study’s practical approach to
child protection describes methods used that
may assist in designing programs. This builds on
approaches in the World Vision report A Safe
World for Children: Ending abuse, violence and
exploitation, as well as those in the CAN study.
Definition of “child abuse and
neglect”
A definition of child abuse and neglect can be
taken from Article 19 of the CRC, which
“…requires children’s protection from “all
forms of physical or mental violence, from
torture and cruel or degrading treatment or
punishment while in the care of parents or
others. Article 19 asserts children’s equal
human right to physical and personal integrity.
As a principle, it is linked to the right to life and
maximum survival and development guaranteed
under article 6.” 12
Abuse and neglect have been shown to be
principal causes of children leaving home to
live on the street. Children subject to abuse
are also at high risk of involvement in
hazardous labour, including prostitution, or in
trafficking. Its presence in a community is
indicative of stress.
Definition of “children at risk”
“Children at risk are those that have become
separated from or have been failed by the
primary units of society that normally provide
protection: their families and community.”
– UNICEF 13
Children at risk face greater challenges to
their survival and development. Family,
community and government often
compromise their best interests (Article 3,
CRC). They are marginalised, exploited and
more likely to die at a young age.
Participating countries
The study draws upon program experience in
Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and
the Philippines. These five countries were
selected for the research based on the
criteria that they:
• are countries where World Vision has an
established presence
• have distinct political, social and economic
development environments
12 From Hodgkin, R & Newell, P, Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1998, p. 237
13 Towards Monitoring Child Protection in East Asia and the Pacific, UNICEF, May 2001
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