Every report we find, newest first.

The Online Safety Bill

With the delay of the Online Safety Bill, the UK should not abandon its obligations to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse, says Awaz Raoof, head of law and programmes at Coram International

Awaz Raoof

The role of parental self‐efficacy in parent and child well‐being: A systematic review of associated outcomes

BACKGROUND: For decades, parental self-efficacy (PSE), or parents' belief in their ability to influence their child in a healthy and success-promoting manner, has been understood as a key factor in promoting healthy functioning for parents and their children. In that time, an extensive collection of research examining the specific impact of PSE on parents and their children has developed. However, to the authors' knowledge, no comprehensive and systematic review of the outcomes linked to this factor exists, and the two most closely related non-systematic reviews were published over 10 years ago. METHODS: Therefore, by utilizing an iteratively optimized set of search terms applied across four databases, the current review sought to systematically collect, synthesize, and present the extant literature concerning the role of PSE in parent and child well-being. RESULTS: This search strategy yielded a total of 115 studies, the results of which were organized into three broad thematic categories relating to: the parent and child relationship, parental mental health, or child development. CONCLUSIONS: These results recapitulate the clinical relevance of PSE, and provide an updated and comprehensive understanding of both the role PSE plays in the welfare of parents and children, as well as the gaps in the literature as it currently stands.

Ariana M. Albanese, Gabrielle R. Russo, Pamela A. Geller

Online Safety for Children and Youth under the 4Cs Framework—A Focus on Digital Policies in Australia, Canada, and the UK

This study analyzes the previous literature on the online safety of children and youth under “the 4Cs risk framework” concerning contact, content, conduct, and contract risks. It then conducts a comparative study of Australia, Canada, and the UK, comparing their institutions, governance, and government-led programs. Relevant research in Childhood Education Studies is insufficient both in quantity and quality. To minimize the four major online risks for children and youth in cyberspace, it is necessary to maintain a regulatory approach to the online exposure of children under the age of 13. Moreover, the global society should respond together to these online risks with “multi-level” policymaking under a “multi-stakeholder approach”. At the international level, multilateral discussion within the OECD and under UN subsidiaries should continue to lead international cooperation. At the domestic level, a special agency in charge of online safety for children and youth should be established in each country, encompassing all relevant stakeholders, including educators and digital firms. At the school and family levels, both parents and teachers need to work together in facilitating digital literacy education, providing proper guidelines for the online activities of children and youth, and helping them to become more satisfied and productive users in the digital era.

Yujin Jang, Bomin Ko

Teach your children about online safety and privacy!

Teach your children about online safety and privacy!

Can E-safety Compromise Children’s Rights?

This chapter provides a more elaborate review and a critical examination of research findings about digital bullying, drawing from an interdisciplinary literature. In light of these findings, it critically analyzes media coverage of e-safety, online risks and harms, which digital bullying is an example of, as well as moral and technopanics –exaggerated concerns over youth use of technology and the consequences that emerge under such circumstances for various stakeholders. This chapter also builds the case for considering protection from digital bullying in the context of children’s rights. Wider social and cultural problems that remain less discussed in public discourse on digital bullying are given special attention to, building the case as to why it is important to address the culture of humiliation, focusing attention on dignity, rather than engaging in simplistic binaries of finger-pointing that are so often witnessed in the aftermaths of digital bullying cases.

Tijana Milosevic

Bilingualism in the family and child well-being: A scoping review

Aims and objectives: The aim of this scoping review is to investigate the association between bilingualism in the family and child subjective well-being, by reviewing the literature to identify key themes to date and remaining questions for future research. Methodology: Scopus, Web of Knowledge, ERIC, Psych Articles and PsychInfo were searched systematically between September and October 2018, and after title, abstract and full-text screening, 17 of the initial 1433 articles were included in this review. Data and analysis: Each study was coded for the discipline from which it emerged, the language combination studied, the measures of well-being and language proficiency it used, the geographical location of the study and the number of participants. Data on the link between bilingualism and well-being was extracted from each study. Findings and conclusion: Two main themes were identified: ‘The effect of language proficiency on family relationships’ and ‘The acculturation of parents and children as mediated by language’. Across studies, there was significant heterogeneity in definition of concepts and a diverse range of measures employed. In addition, the studies identified suggest a positive link between minority language maintenance and child well-being, and a positive influence of bilingualism, rather than knowledge of only the home or the majority language. However, the directionality of these relationships will need to be investigated in future research. Originality: This is the first scoping review conducted systematically to explore the link between bilingualism in the family and child well-being internationally. It builds on previous work such as a narrative review which examined this association in the European context.

Lisa‐Maria Müller, Katie Howard, Elspeth Wilson et al.

The Global Challenge to Eliminate Child Labour Through International Treaties

This study examines the extent to which the international regulatory framework on the prohibition of child labour can contribute to the elimination of child labour from the supply chains of MNCs. It starts with an assessment of the framework and how it sets global human and labour rights prohibiting child labour and offers guidance to MNCs in respecting these rights. Based on this knowledge two case studies are conducted in Philips and Nestle to link theory with practice to get a more realistic insight into the implementation and contribution of the framework. The results agree with criticism on the framework regarding the lack of enforceability, weak language and dependency on social pressure but also finds that the flexibility of voluntary instruments opens up new potential. Centred around due diligence, MNCs developed unique approaches that fit well with their way of doing business. Compiled of various instruments this approach was often effective and contributed more to the elimination of child labour than a single instrument. This study underlines the importance of a good fit between the framework and an MNC and when implemented right, voluntary instruments have despite their weakness, the potential to contribute to the elimination of child labour and fill the gap until CSR becomes mandatory through national legislation. 

Tom Zwijnenburg

Child Labour and Maternal Bargaining Power in India: A Systematic Literature Review

Child labour endures as a critical social and policy issue in India, shaped not only by poverty and economic necessity but also by the family structure and parental influence. Using a PRISMA-based systematic review, this study searched Scopus, Web of Science, EconLit, and Google Scholar from database inception to the most recent search in 2025, and synthesised 32 peer-reviewed journal articles. Central to this analysis is the often-overlooked role of mothers’ bargaining power within the household. The review finds compelling evidence that when mothers hold greater bargaining power over household decisions and resources, children are more likely to remain in school and less likely to enter the labour force. However, a consistent gap persists in how current studies measure and address the influence of maternal decision-making on child labour. By systematically identifying these gaps and assessing the robustness of existing evidence, this study offers a roadmap for future research and actionable policy recommendations. The findings emphasise that empowering mothers is not only essential to breaking the cycle of child labour but also vital for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in India.

Pragyan Paramita Sahoo, Anwesha Aditya

Urban Neighbourhood Dynamics and the Worst Forms of Child Labour

While the worst forms of child labour (WFCL) is not only an urban phenomenon, evidence suggests that WFCL emerges in cities in unique ways due to the complex structures and dynamics of urban systems. This report, therefore, develops a conceptual framework for WFCL in cities that integrates key understandings of urban systems and evidence about urban WFCL. This report reviews current literature on the complex systemic nature of cities – drawing on literature on the urban land nexus, urban complexity, informality, and inclusive urbanisation. It also reviews studies of child labour (focusing on the worst forms, where possible) in urban contexts. In this way, the report offers an innovative way of understanding the challenge of WFCL, and outlines the premises of a research agenda for responding to WFCL in cities. These contributions are made with the specific cities and neighbourhoods in mind where the CLARISSA programme is being implemented; however, they should be useful more generally.

Eric Kasper