Child Protection

Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Butterflies NGO's Work at the Intersection of Safety and Justice

In a city as vast and complex as New Delhi, thousands of children fall through the cracks of systems meant to protect them. Runaways, trafficking victims, children in conflict with the law, and survivors of abuse are among the young people Butterflies NGO has spent decades refusing to ignore.

Through a combination of prevention, intervention, and long-term support, the organization works to protect and empower some of the most overlooked children in India.

Meeting Children Where the System Falls Short

Butterflies NGO's Child Protection Program is built on a simple but powerful understanding: protection isn't just about removing danger — it's about building safety nets that actually hold.

The program supports vulnerable children across multiple fronts, but one of its most critical areas of focus is Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL).

These adolescents often find themselves in detention centers instead of receiving the support they need. Rather than rehabilitation, many experience isolation and stigma.

Butterflies is working to change that.

The organization is repurposing its Resilience Center to serve children in conflict with the law and is developing a prevention and diversion program in collaboration with:

• Police departments in South and Southeast Delhi

• The Juvenile Justice Board

• Child Welfare Committees

The program focuses on restoration rather than punishment. Instead of criminalization, young people participate in diversionary activities such as:

• Sports

• Theater

• Art and creative expression

• Crafts and skill-building

These activities are combined with a social casework model that works not only with the youth but also with their families and schools.

The goal is straightforward but powerful:
Keep children out of detention and keep them connected to a future.

Raising Awareness Before Harm Happens

Prevention is equally central to Butterflies' child protection work.

The organization trains community stakeholders to recognize early warning signs of abuse, trafficking, and illegal underage marriage. Participants include:

• Parents

• Teachers

• School administrators

• Magistrates

• Social workers

• Local shopkeepers and community members

These trained individuals form Child Social Protection Committees, creating local networks that help identify and protect vulnerable children.

Butterflies uses accessible education tools to reach people across all literacy levels, including:

• Face-to-face workshops

• Posters and awareness materials

• Comics and graphic novels

Importantly, children themselves are included in this awareness work.

Because when children understand their rights, they become far harder to exploit.

CHILDLINE: A Lifeline for Children in Crisis

For years, Butterflies operated three CHILDLINE sites — a national 24/7 emergency hotline for children in distress.

One center operated from the organization's New Delhi South building, while another was located at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, a major arrival point for runaway and missing children entering the city.

Butterflies' trained staff provided critical support services, including:

• Immediate crisis response

• Psychosocial counseling and therapy

• Medical assistance coordination

• Accompaniment to police stations, hospitals, and courts

• Family tracing and reunification

In August 2023, the Ministry of Women and Child Development transitioned CHILDLINE operations to state governments.

When this change took place, Butterflies provided a three-month severance package for the 15 staff members affected — demonstrating the organization's commitment not only to children, but also to the professionals who serve them.

Research Grounded in Real Voices

Butterflies also conducts research that helps shape better child protection policies and practices.

Their studies have explored critical issues such as:

• Sexual abuse of boys

• The experiences of children in conflict with the law

What makes their research unique is the methodology. Instead of relying solely on reports from social workers or authorities, Butterflies centers the voices of the children themselves.

Through extensive, anonymized, in-depth interviews, young people share their experiences directly — ensuring the findings reflect lived realities rather than assumptions.

That distinction makes a powerful difference in how solutions are designed.

How You Can Help

Protecting vulnerable children requires collective action.