自從民國八十二年見童福利法修訂通過後，台灣地區兒童保護工作便因「依法有據」，而在實務推動方面有長足的進步。然而，在對這一群生存權最受威脅的人口一棄嬰及棄兒，的保護方面，卻並未有任何特別的努力，甚至連完整的統計資料都付之闕如。本文即從兒童人權，尤其是基本生存權保障的觀點出發，探討兒童人權的內容和特質，台灣兒童人權的現況，並就棄兒(嬰)發生的原因，各國的保護工作模式，我國各地棄兒(嬰)的實際情形作一整理，並從法規、執行與資源三方面來檢視我國保護工作的不足與缺失。最後提出「預防遺棄的發生，是最佳的保護策略」的主張，並對如何預防棄兒(嬰)，如何修訂法制，並在保護工作實務中落實保障兒童人權及其最佳利益，提供具體的建議。

The protective services of the abused and neglected children have been improved a great deal in Taiwan ever since the amendment of the Child Welfare Act in 1993, Though, protection of the abandoned children is still an untouched area. This artic1e intends to advocate the needs of improving the protection services of the abandoned children from the children's right perspective. In the paper, it examines the children’s rights situation, and the status quo of the abandoned children problems. The paper conc1udes by c1aimingthat“prevention is the best protection of abandoned children." Waysj of preventing child abandonment, modifying the relevant regulations and policies, and improving practice are suggested in the end.