2.3 Background checks

Prevention requires systems that prioritize child safety at every level and in all settings, including both staff and volunteers.

Just ten countries have put in place mandatory background checks for people working with children and adolescents. Several others have put checks in place for some individuals working in limited settings. 

However, most countries are not protecting children with required background checks for those working in direct contact with children.

Indicator	What it measures	Why it matters	Score range
2.3 Background checks	Whether the country requires criminal background checks for all individuals working with children and adolescents	Children and adolescents interact with many adults in positions of trust — background checks are a basic safeguard against known offenders	0–2

How to interpret your country's score

2.3 Background checks (0–2)

0	National legislation does not include provisions requiring criminal background checks for people working with children and adolescents. Convicted sex offenders are not prohibited from holding positions involving direct contact with children.
1	Legislation includes non-mandatory provisions or provisions limited in scope — for example, covering only nationals or non-nationals, only staff (not volunteers), or only public settings. Convicted sex offenders may also be prohibited from holding positions in settings involving direct contact with children and adolescents.
2	Legislation mandates criminal background checks for every national or non-national working with children and adolescents, including staff, consultants, and volunteers. Convicted sex offenders may also be prohibited from holding positions in settings involving direct contact with children and adolescents.

From indicators to budget lines

Use this as a guide to strengthen your advocacy requests and create targeted ‘asks’ to decision-makers within the right Ministry (for example: Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, or Finance)

Indicator	What it tracks	Budget-line-to target	Template language
2.3 Background checks	Whether the country requires criminal background checks for all people working with children and adolescents Ministry of Justice / Interior / Education: criminal records system, vetting infrastructure, compliance mechanisms, sex offender registry	Ministry of Justice / Interior / Education: criminal records system, vetting infrastructure, compliance mechanisms, sex offender registry	“Allocate [amount] to implement mandatory criminal background checks for all nationals and non-nationals working with children, including staff, consultants, and volunteers, across both public and private settings.”

How to put a number on your ask

Break your ask into building blocks a Finance Ministry would recognize. Even a rough component-based estimate signals seriousness:

Indicator	Examples of components to estimate
2.3 Background checks	Criminal records database development or upgrade; vetting unit staffing; compliance and enforcement mechanisms; sex offender registry maintenance

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Third Richest Nation

www.bravemovement.org/campaigns/third-richest-nation

A world without childhood violence would be $7 trillion richer. This nation isn’t real. Its wealth could be. Brave Movement's survivor-led advocacy campaign at the G20 in 2025 pressured decision makers to invest in prevention, healing and justice to create stronger, happier nations.

#BeBrave G7 Scorecard 2025

www.bravemovement.org/g7

By evaluating each G7 nation’s progress on vital policy measures we're drawing global attention to the global, silent pandemic of sexual violence against children. This is a crisis that undermines the G7's commitment to building secure, prosperous, and equitable societies. Kids need bold leadership and decisive action now to be safe and thrive.

Break the record

www.togetherforgirls.org/en/press/a-record-breaking-event-now-governments-must-deliver

We broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for the most countries represented at a childhood violence summit! With 120 governments attending, this first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children was the largest organized event to address this issue on a global scale. Most importantly, as a result, we also broke the world’s record of inaction against childhood sexual violence.