A Better Way to Protect ALL Children: The theory and practice of child protection systems, Conference Report

This document is the final report from the conference “A Better Way to Protect ALL Children: The theory and practice of child protection systems” that was held in India in November 2012. The conference built on the recent conceptual and practical work to better understand and reform child protection systems in both developed and developing countries. A child protection system was defined as certain structures, functions and capacities – or components – that have been assembled to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children. These components include the workforce, data, financing, laws and policies, governance, as well as protection and response services, care management and engagement of children and communities. This report aims to: 1) encapsulate the substantive content of the presentations and related discussion; 2) provide analysis and document the journey; and 3) suggest an agenda, or at least direction, for future work on child protection systems.