Evidence-Based or Experience-Based Legislation on Child Protection? & Unintended Consequences of a Policy

Difference Between Evidence-Based and Experience-Based Child Protection Legislation

Evidence-Based Legislation:

Foundation: Relies on scientific research, data, and empirical evidence.

Objective: Aims to create policies that are effective and based on proven outcomes.

Experience-Based Legislation:

Foundation: Based on practical experiences and insights from practitioners and stakeholders.

Objective: Seeks to create policies grounded in experience, real-world practice, observation and judgment.

Unintended Consequences of Child Protection Legislation

Overburdened Systems: Some policies can lead to an overwhelming number of reports, many of which are unfounded, straining child protection agencies.

Revictimization: Some laws can inadvertently revictimize abused individuals, especially in cases of domestic violence.

Disproportionate Impact on Poor Families: Overpolicing and stringent reporting requirements can disproportionately affect low-income families, often leading to unnecessary separations.

Mistrust in Social Services: Families may become wary of seeking help from social services due to fear of investigation and intervention.

Judicial Skepticism: Legislation that presumes guilt can lead to skepticism about abuse allegations, potentially harming genuine victims Legal and policy responses to children exposed to domestic.

These unintended consequences highlight the need for a balanced approach incorporating evidence-based and experience-based insights to create effective and humane child protection policies.

#ChildProtection #Legislation #Research #Children #ChildRights #Pakistan #Senate #UNICEF #Consultation #Consultant #ChildSexualAbuse #ChildAbuse #Lahore #Islamabad #NationalAssembly #Parliament #UnitedNations #UN #PublicPolicy #Policy