Child protection
Poverty in childhood is a root cause of poverty in adulthood
The well-being of millions of children continues to be compromised. Over one billion children are severely deprived of at least one of the essential goods and services they require to survive, grow and develop. They become street children, refugees, victims of war and emergencies, and migrant workers. They are often trapped in prostitution and sexual abuse.
Child victims of humanitarian crises who become orphaned or separated from their families may be abducted or become trafficked and forced into prostitution. Children who are subjected to abuse and neglect face shortened lives and life-long poor physical and mental health. Armed conflict and periods of repression increase the risk that children will be tortured. For money or protection, children may turn to ‘survival sex’, which is usually unprotected and carries a high risk of violence and transmission of disease, including HIV/AIDS.