Child Protection

What began as a routine awareness session under the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, quickly turned into an emotional outpouring from parents and community leaders demanding justice for their children who have been sexually abused.

The worrying rise in sexual activity and abuse among children as young as 10, continues to emerge as a growing concern that if not addressed, will have far reaching consequences in the future.

Speaking at yesterday’s (November 26, 2025) community dialogue in Orinya Village, Palorinya Refugee Settlement, Abdul Malik, one of ChildFund’s trained peace champions, voiced deep concern over the trend.

“In nearly every session we hold, cases of children engaging in or being forced into sexual acts come up. Even when we try to report, the response system is painfully slow,” he said.

His concerns were echoed by parents who shared similar experiences.

Racheal (not real name) stood before the group and recounted how her daughter was recently defiled by a boy in their neighbourhood. When she reported the matter to police, she said the officer on duty dismissed her and told her to return home.

Another father told the gathering that his 10-year-old son had been coerced into sex by a 15-year-old girl. Despite making a formal report, no follow up was ever conducted.

Khadija Tazi, another peace champion, underscored why continued engagement is essential. “If we want to change behaviours and protect our children, we must keep talking to them. One session is not enough,” she stated.

Sharone Akullu, the project officer, explained that the ongoing activities ranging from peacebuilding and GBV prevention to child protection, reporting and referral sessions are designed to strengthen community resilience and prompt action.

“These dialogues create platforms for parents and youth to speak openly and for us to work together on solutions,” she said.

The dialogues are part of the broader 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global movement held every year from 25 November to 10 December to spotlight violence against women and girls and drive collective advocacy.

ChildFund’s efforts include strengthening referral pathways by continuously engaging the police to follow up on reported cases.

“We support survivors’ caregivers through community structures, encouraging them not to abandon their cases despite delays. But also to reduce barriers, we provide transport support for those who must travel long distances to pursue justice. Many community members quickly lose hope in the system because of lengthy procedures, so we ensure that community structures are well-informed and able to guide them,” Sharone explained.

For cases that reach litigation, she adds that survivors are supported to undergo the required medical examinations. “We have also established psychosocial support structures within communities to address mental health needs, accompany victims to access services, and facilitate their reintegration.”

Children who conflict with the law are sent to juvenile detention centres to ensure those under 18 are handled appropriately.

Yesterday’s sessions, conducted in both Kuku and Arabic with English translation, attracted nearly 300 participants from Zone 2 in Orinya village. They included awareness discussions, focus groups and male engagement dialogues, platforms where men and boys are encouraged to challenge harmful norms and support GBV prevention.

These activities are supported under ChildFund’s KOICA-funded Integrated Livelihood, Education and Protection (ILEAP) project, implemented by ChildFund in partnership with ChorogUsan for Children and Good Farmers.

Through ILEAP, 30 facilitators and peace champions from both refugee and host communities have been trained, alongside 30 members of male action groups dedicated to driving behaviour change among men and boys.

A key pillar of ILEAP is strengthening child protection structures within the community. The project builds the capacity of Child Protection Committees, para-social workers, teachers and youth leaders to identify and respond to abuse. It also reinforces referral pathways to ensure that children who experience violence receive timely psychosocial support and case management.