It is the right of every child to be effectively protected from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. The 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2014 should be taken as an opportunity to systematically and sustainably anchor child protection in development cooperation. But what specific requirements does the protection of children’s rights place on German state development cooperation? The study “Kinderschutz ist Kinderrecht” examines the specific risks of violence against and exploitation of children in the context of global upheaval processes, in particular rapid urbanisation, displacement and migration, as well as natural disasters and climate change. Based on these challenges, it formulates recommendations for strengthening child protection in German development cooperation.