These WHO guidelines aim to help frontline healthcare providers to recognize children who have suffered from violence and neglect and provide evidence-based first line support. Specifically, the guidelines focus on:

- Identification of children who are exposed to abuse or neglect;
- Supportive communication with children suspected to be victims of abuse or neglect;
- Assessing and addressing the safety of the child;
- Interacting with caregivers in suspected cases of child maltreatment;
- Providing immediate medical and psychosocial support for children exposed to child maltreatment;
- Collecting medical history, conducting physical exams and appropriate documentation of findings.

These guidelines complement "Responding to children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: WHO clinical guidelines" (#5635) which were published in 2017. A short practical handbook and training package, which will help to put the recommendations of the two guidelines into practice, are currently being developed. (From the website). Record #6830