All children are entitled to child protection, irrespective of race, ethnicity, religion or socio-economic background. When there appears to be a conflict of interest between the protection of the child and that of the community/religious institution, it is the protection of the child that must come first.
A child is abused or neglected when somebody inflicts harm, or fails to act to prevent harm.
Children could be at risk of abuse in a family, institutional or community setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. A child or young person up to the age of 18 years could be subject to abuse or neglect and require protection via an inter-agency child protection plan.
