Global perspectives: Comparative child protection laws across countries

This study presents a comparative evaluation of child protection laws worldwide, focusing on their effectiveness in preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Drawing from the 2024 Global Child Protection Law Dataset, which includes legal data from over 100 nations, the research examines variables such as age limits, abuse penalties, child welfare structures, and international treaty participation. Using Quantitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the study assesses legal strength through criteria like enforcement, scope, and public outreach. Machine learning techniques, specifically Random Forest and Support Vector Machine models, classify and rank countries based on the robustness of their child protection frameworks. Findings reveal that countries with comprehensive laws and strong enforcement average an 85.7% effectiveness rate, while those with weaker systems average 62.3%. The research underscores global disparities and offers evidence-based recommendations for legal and policy reform.