Overcoming Oppression in Child Protection: Restorative Justice, Responsive Regulation and Political Courage

Abstract

Data from seven empirical studies undertaken as part of the Capacity Building in Child Protection Projects are used to demonstrate how Iris Marion Young’s (1992) five faces of oppression apply to child protection. Overcoming entrenched oppression within child protection systems requires authorities to offset their tight networks of control with open networks of dialogue and collaborative problem solving. Two promising institutions for doing so are restorative justice and responsive regulation (Braithwaite 2002). In order for these institutions to flourish, however, political leaders must put aside the politics of moral panic and punishment (Warner 2015).

Keywords: child protection, restorative justice, responsive regulation, oppression