Protecting migrant children from sexual abuse and exploitation

Issues This abstract presents an evidence-informed practice from the design and implementation of an early intervention project to protect children from the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation while moving from place to... [ view full abstract ]

Issues
This abstract presents an evidence-informed practice from the design and implementation of an early intervention project to protect children from the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation while moving from place to place.

Description
Five civil society organizations initiated a program to support ‘children on the move’ along the major highway that connects the capital city to eight major cities and towns in the northern Ethiopian corridor, coving 750 kilometers. Children travelling through these routes are destined to reach major towns and cities within the Amhara and Oromiya states, Addis Ababa and even to the Gulf countries via Djibouti, Yemen and Sudan. Transport workers and other strangers in the transit towns and places of destination reportedly abused many of these children while they were travelling and working as housemaids, in the bars, brothels and small local drinking places along the major highway.

Lessons Learned
Over 2,000 migrant children were provided protection and safe passage and reintegration services as found appropriate. The organizations were able to create a workable referral linkage amongst themselves and other service providers, shared resources and expertise, built the capacities of grassroots organizations and secured support from other duty bearers, including the government. A functional child protection mechanism, which included bringing perpetrators to justice, was created, transitional shelters were established, better engagement and collaboration with transport operators was obtained, and awareness about the problem of abuse of children on the move was enhanced through using the media. Furthermore, a database to document incidences related to child victims was established for promoting research.

Conclusion

Establishing collaboration between service providers, law enforcement bodies and other stakeholders is crucial for the delivery of effective services. Such an innovative program creates an avenue for mobilizing more resources.