Foundations of Child Protection

What you’ll learn

Define child protection, safeguarding and child rights, and how they relate
Recognise the forms and warning signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation
Apply the four guiding principles of the child-rights framework to real decisions
Describe Uganda's legal and policy framework and its child-protection systems
Use the 4 Rs — Recognise, Respond, Report, Record — to act on a concern

Skills you’ll gain

Child protectionSafeguardingChild rights (UNCRC)Case referralHandling disclosuresUganda Children Act

Course content

7 modules · 21 lessons · 1 final test · 1 certificate

1Module 1 — Orientation & Key Concepts3 lessons

Welcome & how this course works

Child protection, safeguarding & child rights — the key definitions

Video: What child protection means (UNICEF)

Practice quiz · 2 questions Ungraded

2Module 2 — Understanding Abuse, Neglect & Harm3 lessons

The four main categories of abuse

Exploitation, violence & harmful practices (Uganda context)

Recognising the signs

Practice quiz · 3 questions Ungraded

3Module 3 — The Guiding Principles2 lessons

The four guiding principles of child rights

Do no harm & the safeguarding mindset

Practice quiz · 2 questions Ungraded

4Module 4 — Legal & Policy Framework4 lessons

International & regional instruments

Video: The Convention on the Rights of the Child (2 min)

Uganda's legal & policy framework

Systems & duty-bearers in Uganda

Practice quiz · 3 questions Ungraded

5Module 5 — Recognising & Responding: the 4 Rs3 lessons

The 4 Rs: Recognise, Respond, Report, Record

Handling a disclosure — do's and don'ts

Referral pathways & confidentiality

Practice quiz · 3 questions Ungraded

6Module 6 — Prevention & Your Role3 lessons

Preventing harm: the WHO INSPIRE strategies

Video: The AfriChild Centre

Being a duty-bearer — putting it into practice

Practice quiz · 2 questions Ungraded

7Module 7 — Glossary, Resources & Wrap-up3 lessons

Glossary of key terms

Resources & further reading

Course summary & next steps

★Final Test10 questions (drawn from a pool of 16) · 70% to pass · graded

Pass the final test to earn your certificate

Instructor

The AfriChild Centre

Uganda’s centre of excellence for the study of the African child

This course is developed and delivered by The AfriChild Centre, drawing on its research and practice in child wellbeing and protection across the region.

About this course

A thorough introduction to child protection for social workers, researchers, teachers, health workers and volunteers. You will learn what child protection and safeguarding mean, the forms and signs of harm, the guiding rights principles, Uganda's legal and policy framework, referral pathways, and your everyday responsibilities as a duty-bearer — with a glossary, worked examples, and links to the primary sources.

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Foundations of Child Protection

What you’ll learn

Skills you’ll gain

Course content

Instructor

The AfriChild Centre

About this course

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