Current child protection issues in Europe

The Council of Europe (1992, Article 15b) acknowledges the right of all children to live in conditions which promote their proper development and to grow up free from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and other forms of child abuse. In general terms it is the policy and practice that help to enable children to achieve this right that is commonly referred to as child protection. There are many current child protection issues in Europe. In brief, these concern prevention, detection and notification, investigation and assessment, follow-up intervention, treatment and review, training and research (Council of Europe, 1992). This chapter does not attempt to cover all these but instead touches on some that impinge on children, families and services wherever they live and some with greater pan-European significance.