Policy for Child Protection: A Review of the Child Ombudsmen’s Office in Peru

Abstract

Child well-being is one of the most important topics of public debate in recent times, and the abuse of children’s rights has moved up the social policy agenda. Public education campaigns have been promoted to combat violence against children, alongside programmes and institutions responsible for protecting children’s rights. However, many children do not have access to information about child protection programmes. And data about the victims of child abuse or the factors that hinder or facilitate their access to the services that could support them are even more scarce. The Children’s Ombudsman service in Peru (Demuna), which has been created at local level by the municipal authorities, promotes and protects the rights of children and young people. One aspect of the Ombudsman’s work is to prevent the abuse by government services, or by adults, of the rights of children who have been victims of violence or are at risk of abuse (people trafficking, child pornography, drugs, child exploitation, etc.). This policy paper approaches the topic of child abuse from the perspective of the public debate. It describes international approaches to the prevention and elimination of child abuse. And it gives an overview of the children in the Young Lives sample and the ways in which they access the Ombudsman services in Peru.

Citation

Lescano, V.S. Policy for Child Protection: A Review of the Child Ombudsmen’s Office in Peru. Niños del Milenio, Lima, Peru (2012) 11 pp. [Niños del Milenio Boletín 4] In Spanish

Policy for Child Protection: A Review of the Child Ombudsmen’s Office in Peru

Published 1 January 2012