Research
You will find a complete range of our monographs, muti-authored and edited works including peer-reviewed, original scholarly research across the social sciences and aligned disciplines. We publish long and short form research and you can browse the complete Bristol University Press and Policy Press archive.
Policy Press also publishes policy reviews and polemic work which aim to challenge policy and practice in certain fields. These books have a practitioner in mind and are practical, accessible in style, as well as being academically sound and referenced.
Books: Research
This chapter elaborates on how social and child protection in Cuba has developed during the last few years. It addresses some aspects of legal frameworks that protect children and adolescents in the country, amid the most recent legal revisions undertaken by the government. It also presents available data about child maltreatment of which the main manifestations in Cuba are negligence, violence and maltreatment and sexual abuse. In this regard, it analyses the protection networks. AÂ notable aspect is the coordination of work and alliances between different agents and institutions in responding to child maltreatment. Finally, there is a reflection on how within the Cuban protection system some practical issues are addressed.
This chapter outlines the development of Ethiopia’s child protection system. It identifies poverty, gaps in the legislative frameworks, insufficient resources and a lack of coordination and commitment among responsible actors as significant challenges impeding operationalisation of existing legislation. However, regardless of the challenges, this chapter also documents how traditional practices that are already in place to keep children safe are beginning to operate in harmony with child protection laws and policies. This chapter concludes by looking at the ability of Ethiopia’s child protection system to meet the challenges facing the country including more profound ethnic and regional rivalries, conflict and climate shocks.
This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of Lebanon’s child protection system. Starting with Lebanon’s social and political context, the chapter examines how child protection has evolved as a policy area and its current status in Lebanese society. Emphasising the significance of Lebanon’s 2002 child protection legislation Law 422, the chapter examines the mechanisms that have been developed for monitoring and responding to child maltreatment, assesses data reliability and explores the prevalence of child maltreatment alongside associated risk factors. Through the lens of two hypothetical scenarios involving reported maltreatment incidents, the chapter also examines how communities, and the formal child protection system might respond. Finally, it reflects on the remaining challenges Lebanon faces building a child protection system and explores the trajectories for advancing child protection in the country going forward.
Child Protection systems across the globe are developing at pace, each reflecting their unique economic, social and cultural contexts.
This book provides an overview of 11 child protection systems from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and discusses the formal and informal responses countries are making to the shared problem of child abuse and maltreatment. Within each chapter, vignettes give readers a window into how each country’s child protection system operates in practice.
This is essential reading for academics, social work professionals and anybody working within child and family welfare.
This chapter examines the evolution of the child protection system in the Maldives, highlighting the impact of socio-political changes and legal reforms on child safeguarding. It discusses the introduction and development of the Child Rights Protection Act (CRPA) of 2019, which has significantly shaped the legislative landscape regarding child welfare. The chapter also explores the challenges posed by the dispersed geography of the Maldivian islands and the role of international conventions like the UNCRC in influencing local policies. Additionally, it acknowledges the cultural and religious context and reviews the ongoing efforts to integrate child protection into broader social protection frameworks to enhance the well-being of children and families.
This chapter provides an overview of child protection systems in Pakistan, focusing on the socio-economic, political and cultural factors that influence child maltreatment. It delves into the legal definitions of abuse and neglect within the country’s unique context, considering factors such as the large young population, poverty rates and conservative feudal culture. Additionally, the chapter analyses existing legislative policy frameworks, including the ZARRA 2020 initiative, which aims to enhance child welfare and protection. The practices of institutions like the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau are examined to identify challenges faced in implementing effective child protection measures. Finally, the chapter explores opportunities and potential reforms for strengthening Pakistan’s child protection landscape.
This chapter discusses the development and practice of China’s child protection system. The initial focus of the chapter is to provide an overview of the country, including China’s socio-political background and children’s rights. Then, the chapter describes the definition and prevalence of child maltreatment in China and examines the evolution of the legal and policy framework related to the child protection system. Within this context, the chapter will elaborate on child protection practice, illustrated by two vignettes. The chapter concludes by identifying the opportunities and challenges for the future development of the child protection system and practice in China.
This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of Thailand’s child welfare and protection system, covering its socio-political context, legal framework and current practice responses. It explores historical influences, including transitions from monarchy to democracy, and examines key aspects such as definitions of childhood, child maltreatment and education policies. Additionally, it addresses challenges such as inequality, child labour and social protection gaps, while highlighting the role of NGOs and international organisations in child protection efforts.
This chapter sets out the book’s aim to provide a descriptive, practice-based account of the development and status of practice relating to child maltreatment in a range of LMICs. It begins by outlining the international standards and benchmarking of child protection systems that have shaped LMICs’ trajectories. It then sets out the existing theories and typologies for comparing international child protection efforts and how the book builds upon this through contributions from local scholars and/or practitioners, who have knowledge not only of the policies and legislations in place – but on-the-ground experience of how systems are functioning in practice. This chapter then sets out how the book is organised, including the geographic regions covered, the structure of each individual chapter and the pertinent issues and debates they raise.
