A girl stands in front of a wall marked with bullet holes in Yemen.

Protection

All children have rights which need to be protected.

Save the Children was the first global organization devoted solely to serving children’s needs, protecting them from harm and securing their rights. Today, we champion the rights of the world’s 2.3 billion children.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, hundreds of millions of children face increasing threats to their safety and wellbeing – including violence, gender-based violence, exploitation and separation from caregivers. These threats could be even more severe for children living in countries experiencing instability and conflict.

We know the world’s children deserve better. Our 100-year history of responding to emergencies has given us the expertise and the global presence to deliver what’s needed now for children.

Every child should grow up a safe and supported, yet three quarters of children experience violence.

Violence against children was already at pandemic proportions before the outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic threatens to exacerbate the risk of violence against children, particularly girls, poor children, children with disabilities and those in fragile contexts.

A 12-year old boy stands alone in a displacement camp, North East Syria.

12-year old Salem* and his family had to flee their home when ISIS took control of their village and it was no longer safe for them to live there.

1 billion children experience physical, sexual or emotional violence or neglect each year.
9 in 10 child victims of sexual violence are girls.
12 million girls marry before their 18th birthday each year.
85 million children are engaged in hazardous child labor.
1 in every 6 children in the world is living in a conflict zone.

Save the Children protects children from violence and advocates for others to do the same.

• In some of the world’s worst disasters, we have led advocacy efforts that ensure children’s needs are a top priority.

• When an emergency hits, we are on the ground within 72 hours, saving lives and providing protection.

• We have created more safe spaces for children in emergencies than any other humanitarian organization.

• We are global leaders in family reunification, helping to support children and families as they flee unimaginable horrors.

• We helped achieve a 25% decline in child marriage worldwide.

• As the national leader in protecting children in emergencies, we’ve been on the front lines meeting children’s most critical needs in every major disaster since Hurricane Katrina.

Learn more about our work to ensure every child is protected from harm.

A two-year-old refugee is struggling to keep warm in sub-zero temps in Greece.

Refugee Crisis

Worldwide, there are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are children. Child refugees desperately need protection from a wide range of violence, including abuse, exploitation and neglect.

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A boy wears a red Save the Children hat and a cloth face mask while standing outside.

COVID-19 Pandemic

In fragile places like conflict zones, refugee camps and overcrowded communities, where people are already struggling to survive, COVID-19 could have a devastating impact.

Child Marriage

Child marriage represents the devastating end of childhood for 40 million girls worldwide. It not only violates her rights, but risks her life, the lives of her children and the future of her community.

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Sakshi sits in her classroom with her head turned away from the camera to protect her privacy.

Child Trafficking

Child trafficking is a crime – and represents the tragic end of childhood. Children account for 27% of all the human trafficking victims worldwide, and two out of every three child victims are girls.

A young child refugee from Syria laughs and plays with Save the Children's Mariluz Garcia in Idomeni at the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. More than 10,000 refugees are stranded in Idomeni waiting for the border to open. Save the Children works in Idomeni offering protection to children traveling alone and provides food and support to families. Photo credit: Pedro Armestre, September 2015.

Global Protection

Anthony, 7 at home in New York. Anthony participates in the Save the Children-funded Journey of Hope program, an 8-week program that helps children with their emotional recovery after disasters like Superstorm Sandy that deeply affected his coastal community. Photo credit: Susan Warner/Save the Children, August 2013.

Protection in the U.S.