Child   protection   refers   to   the   prevention of   and   response   to   violence,   exploitation   and   abuse   against   girls   and   boys,   including  commercial  sexual exploitation,  exploitative  child  labour including  recruitment  to  armed  groups, and  harmful  traditional  practices  including  child  marriage.

Child  protection  is  focused  on  all  children  under  18  and  therefore  addresses  the  varying  and  evolving  needs  and  capacities  of  girls  and  boys  of  various  age  groups,  from  infancy  and  early  childhood  to  early,  middle  and  late  adolescence.  Building  a  protective  environment  for  children  involves  understanding  the  distinct  nature  and  the  extent  of  violence,  exploitation  and  abuse  that  girls  and  boys  experience.  It  also  involves  ensuring  that  all  response  activities  take  into  account  the  different  needs,  concerns,  and evolving   capacities   of   girls