The Child Rights Social Ecology

CPP’s work is based on the belief that responsibility for supporting the protection and rights of children rests with key systems who affect the child and with whom the child interacts. Beginning with family and followed by community, civil society (e.g. private sector, governments, courts, NGOs, universities and media) and broader societal norms, each system’s actions impact the healthy development of the young person at the centre.

Ideally, every system acts to fully support the young person at the centre and works in partnership with the child and other systems. However, where one system breaks down or fails to support the well-being of the child, an increased pressure is placed on the other systems to support the child. So, where family support breaks down or is lost, there is a need for the other systems (e.g. community, government services, law enforcement) to step up their support to young people.

It is vital that children are active participants in child rights. Developing mechanisms that promote the meaningful participation of young people across these systems helps refine and improve the implementation of child centred actions by each.