Lastekaitse

Lastekaitse (child protection) refers to a set of policies, services and practices designed to safeguard the safety, well-being and rights of children and to prevent and respond to harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. It covers prevention, early intervention and responsive measures across family, school and community settings. The overarching aim is to ensure that children can grow up in safe environments and have their voices heard in decisions affecting them.

Internationally, child protection is anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which obliges states to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation; ensure access to care, education, health and social support; and provide mechanisms for reporting and accountability. National systems translate these obligations into laws, institutions and processes.

Core components include child welfare services, family support programs, foster care and adoption, education and health care, protection from abuse and neglect, protection from exploitation (including child labor and trafficking), and safeguarding online safety. Risk assessment, case management, and interagency collaboration among social services, law enforcement, education and health care are central to effective protection.

Legal and organizational framework varies by country but typically involves local authorities delivering services, social workers handling cases, and courts making protective decisions. In many jurisdictions, specialized child protection agencies or departments coordinate services and may appoint guardians ad litem for complex cases. Prevention efforts emphasize parenting support, early childhood interventions and community programs.

In Estonia, Lastekaitse refers to the system of protecting children’s rights through national legislation, local government services and non-governmental actors. The Estonian NGO Lastekaitse Liit is among organizations advocating for child welfare and rights, alongside government agencies responsible for family and child protection.