Upholding Young Children's Right to Child Protection Through Quality Relationships and Policy

PURPOSE: Children's rights to protection and participation, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 3 (Best interest of the child), Article 12 (Respect for children's views), and Article 19 (Protection from violence), must be upheld, and education and health professionals working with children hold a critical role in ensuring these rights are protected. Infants and children with disabilities are especially vulnerable to maltreatment, representing a significant proportion of abuse cases. Children who use diverse communication styles often face additional barriers when expressing concerns or reporting harm, increasing their risk of harm when adults fail to recognize or respond to their communication effectively. This article advocates for education and health professionals to create a culture of safety that enables children to express their safety and well-being concerns through recognition of their diverse communication styles as expressions of their agency and rights. CONCLUSIONS: Education and health professionals must prioritize unhurried, relationship-focused time with children to create safe, responsive environments that support diverse communication for active engagement with children's cues. High-quality practices and child-inclusive policy and governance are essential measures that can be implemented to reduce the risk of child abuse or maltreatment. Implementation of these measures ensure that children's rights to safety and participation are upheld.