UNICEF works with Religious Communities of all Faiths on Issues Affecting Children

• A fundamental belief in the dignity of the child.
• An emphasis on the family as the best place for bringing up children.
• High priority given to children and the idea that all members of society have rights and duties towards them.
• A holistic notion of the child and a comprehensive understanding of his or her physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.

Child protection

Why partner with religious communities for child protection?

Violence against and exploitation and abuse of children violate the fundamental tenets of the world’s major religions, which speak to the inherent dignity of all human beings.

In every setting, religious communities provide care and support for their members, particularly the poorest, most marginalized and most vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse. They often prioritize the educational needs of vulnerable children and assist with shelter and access to needed services, including medical and legal support. They provide counselling and spiritual guidance and speak out on behalf of those who are powerless to advocate for themselves. They can be powerful allies in protecting the most vulnerable children.

In emergency settings, where children face particular protection concerns including displacement or recruitment into armed forces or groups, religious communities may have some of the only remaining structures and resources. They are called by their faith traditions to attend to those most in need and will remain long after the emergency is deemed to be over from an international perspective. They thus provide the foundations on which to build long-term protective environments.

What can religious communities do to protect children?

• Interpret child protection principles in a language that is meaningful and appropriate to their communities.
• Use teachings from religious texts that emphasize child protection in worship services, religious education and during special religious events such as holidays and rites of passage.
• Speak out against all forms of violence against children, including sexual abuse of girls and boys, in their communities and beyond.
• Clarify that cultural practices harmful to children are not part of religious beliefs and practices and advocate for their abandonment.
• Develop and implement codes of conduct regarding appropriate interaction with children within their places of worship, organizations, institutions (including schools and orphanages) and community associations, including reporting and response mechanisms for child abuse.
• Promote education and training on all forms of violence and good practice in child protection for families, teachers and others in the community, using religious texts and teaching to promote positive discipline and respect for the inherent dignity of all children.
• Lend their moral influence to campaigns addressing child protection issues and advocate for favourable changes in policy and legislation to strengthen legal and monitoring systems to better protect children. Religious communities can also facilitate or assist in community monitoring mechanisms.
• Mobilize communities to take actions to protect children and assess their needs.

Key resources on child protection

In the second phase, state-level Youth Summits were organized under the banner of VFABI in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, where more than 15,000 student/youth leaders pledged to act to support the girl child in India. Acts of Change emerged from across the country as a follow up to this outreach.