Child Protection FAQs

There are different legal ages for marriage in different countries, but World Vision defines a child as under 18. Many countries have a legal age for marriage of 18 but have exceptions (e.g. you can marry from 16 in NZ with your parents’ permission) or the law is not adequately enforced.

Not all work done by children is defined as child labour. Child labour is often defined as: work that deprives children of their childhood, potential or dignity, or that is mentally or physically harmful. 

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Human trafficking is the harbouring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labour or services, by force, fraud, or coercion for subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt, bondage, slavery.  

World Vision defines a child as a person under 18.