This image by @Annu L is one of the entries in the currently ongoing ‘Stamp It Out’ photo contest organized by UNICEF India as part of their #ENDviolence campaign. Used with permission.

Children need a safe and protective environment to grow, learn and explore their creativity, and it is the combined, collective responsibility of all of us – parents, teachers, law enforcing agencies and society – to ensure this.

According to [PDF] the Ministry of Women and Child Development India:

“Child Protection” means the creation of a protective environment in the home, school, community and society so that children are protected from all kinds of harm and harmful situations. It means providing a safety net for those children who are more vulnerable than others and who need special care and protection. It must be understood that a child’s right to protection is part of each and every other right and it is not possible to ensure the other rights without ensuring protection.

When children feel safe in their environment, they are open, happy, confident and free to learn, explore their world and be creative. Here as some of the images captured by bloggers and netizens that tell their own story:

The laughter, the pleasure of a good book and reading …#education. Twitpic by @zenrainman.

A child discusses her work with her teacher. Image from UNICEF India's Teacher's Day album on Facebook

Children draw Paplu the Puppet at a Pratham Books Storytelling Event, conducted by Saakshi KapoorSingla. Twipic by @SaakshiSingla1

A child drawing pictures with full concentration. Flickr image by John Martin, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Children play rugby in Baikunthapur, India. Image taken from the Facebook page of Khelo Rugby, a non-profit organization that takes sporting opportunities into disadvantaged communities in India

As part of their ongoing Red Siren campaign to #ENDviolence against children, UNICEF India has launched a photo contest titled ‘Stamp It Out’. Here are some images from the contest gallery, calling out to ensure that all children get to grow up in a violence-free environment.

Violence leads to disaster. Let us end it. ‘Stamp It Out’ entry sent in by @Monalisa K. Used with permission.

A protective environment allows a child to explore her creativity with confidence. ‘Stamp It Out’ entry sent in by @Ajith PV. Used with permission

In a protective environment, every child is a winner. ‘Stamp It Out’ entry sent in by @Tayzeem R. Used with permission.

You too can participate in the photo contest here and add your voice to the movement.