Protective environment

UNICEF works with governments, civil society, individuals and the private sector to build a protective environment around every child. A protective environment shields the child from harm in the same way that good nutrition and health care shield them from disease. This concept is the basis of our child protection strategy.

The protective environment framework developed in CEE/CIS includes three pillars:

the ability, knowledge, practices and resources of the parents, family or other immediate caregiver who is responsible for the child;
the norms, practices, values and support of the community and society where the child lives;
specific elements of the governance system such as thelegal and policy framework, standards and mandates that guide social services, as well as the competency, behaviour and accountability of professionals in contact with children.

To make an environment - protective for children, child protection standards must permeate each and every element of the three pillars. The results of failing to create such environment are grim. At worst, children die. More often, their childhood fails to prepare them for adult life. Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments are obliged to protect all children and are accountable for any failure to do so. But a huge gap remains between the legal standard and its implementation or enforcement. However, a society that fails to protect children denies them the chance to reach their full potential and undermines its own chance to develop.

UNICEF programmes across the CEE/CIS Region aim to strengthen different elements of the protective environment for children and to help governments fulfill their obligations on child protection. We urge governments to continue to develop national child protection policies and standards. Up to date, we have helped bring national children protection legislation into line with international human rights standards in 11 countries in the region.