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	The child protection programme was established in 2004 as part of the Irish government&rsquo;s <strong>National Youth Work Development Plan. </strong>The child protection programme objective is to 1) build up the ability of youth organizations in Ireland with regarding safe guarding the youth from child abuse or inappropriate behaviour. 2) to develop and deliver what is <strong>child protection</strong> and train child workers, (be they professional or volunteer), in all areas of youth work. 3) To provide accessibility to Garda vetting units via membership of a relevant youth work &amp; Garda vetting consortium. 3) To advocate for the youth work sector for<strong> safe guarding measures </strong>and protection for children. As citizens, we should be concerned for the on-going welfare of children, acknowledging their right to be protected and to be treated with respect &amp; dignity, recognising that their welfare must come first. <strong>Child protection policy </strong>is an on-going concern in Irish society, and it&rsquo;s our duty not to be complacent or apathetic, to learn from child abuse history, and to continue to develop best practice guidelines to ensure children in Ireland obtain the optimum quality of life, and grow in a <strong>happy nurturing environment</strong>, free from risk of abuse, be it sexual, emotional, physical or child labour, as well as trauma suffered from the witnessing of domestic violence.</p>
