SOLE acknowledges that children experience insidious forms of violence, exploitation and abuse. It happens in every country, and in the places children should be most protected at their homes, schools and online. Violence against children can be physical, emotional or sexual. And in many cases, children suffer at the hands of the people they trust.
During armed conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies, children may be forced to flee their homes, some torn from their families and exposed to exploitation and abuse along the way. They risk injury and death. They may be recruited by armed forces. Especially for girls and women, the threat of gender-based violence soars.
No matter the circumstance, every child has the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse. Above all, SOLE ensures that protecting children means protecting their physical, mental and psychosocial needs to safeguard their futures.