It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the clinical features that shouldprompt consideration of one or more types of child maltreatment (neglect, physical,sexual and emotional abuse, and fabricated or induced illness).It is recognised that the assessment of child maltreatment requires a competenthealth care provider to ask the appropriate questions and to respond safely. Any intervention must be guided by the principal to “do no harm”, ensuring thebalance between benefits and harms, and prioritizing the safety of children andadolescents as the uppermost concern.Inquiry into child maltreatment should occur in the context of case finding anddiagnostic assessment by clinicians competent to do so and should be followed byinterventions, referral and/or follow up, where appropriate. Inquiry and followingactions should take into account the availability of interventions, such as caregiverskills training, and other services.Providers need to be aware of and knowledgeable about resources available to whichchildren or adolescents and/or caregivers can be referred.The strategies, including reporting and follow-up of the assessment should beculturally sensitive and not allow violation of children’s basic human rights accordingto internationally endorsed principles.