ABSTRACT
The broad principles and origins of child safeguarding are identified and outlined. Child safeguarding and protection may be of direct or indirect relevance to the forensic physician and other forensic colleagues and they must be aware, within their own jurisdiction, of their duties and obligations. Forensic practitioners may be directly involved in the assessment of children or, as part of other functions, become aware of concerns or risks that must be escalated to appropriate organizations and integrated into standard processes to safeguard and protect the child. This may be part of custodial medicine or the sexual offense medicine role or in other settings, such as the assessment of refugees and complainants of torture or other maltreatment. Whatever the reason, the forensic practitioner must understand the escalation and referral routes, and what factors will trigger these.
