Gyeonggi-do Operates Nation's First Metropolitan 'Regional Child Protection Agency'

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi-do is operating the nation's first metropolitan-level 'Base Child Protection Agency.'

The province announced on the 14th that starting this year, it has expanded and reorganized the Gyeonggi-do Child Protection Agency into a metropolitan-level management headquarters to respond more systematically to child abuse issues, including education and consultation for city and county child protection agencies and child abuse response personnel, as well as research and development of abuse prevention projects.

The Base Child Protection Agency will be responsible for ▲ research and development of abuse prevention projects ▲ support for emergency medical expenses and psychological treatment costs ▲ legal consultation and support for abuse victim families and response personnel ▲ capacity-building education for child abuse response personnel ▲ consultation on abuse cases, and support for the work of city and county child protection agencies.

Additionally, to ensure the smooth initial operation of four city and county child protection agencies to be newly established within the year in Gimpo, Yangju, Osan, and Pocheon, the agency will also support the development of standard operation manuals.

A provincial official stated, "Close cooperation among Gyeonggi-do, city and county governments, and child protection agencies is essential for all children to grow up safely and healthily," and emphasized, "Gyeonggi-do will continue to promote both quantitative and qualitative expansion of the child protection network through the operation of the Gyeonggi-do Base Child Protection Agency and city and county child protection agencies."

Meanwhile, there are currently 19 child protection agencies operating within the province, including the Suwon Child Protection Agency (located in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si).