LWF advocates against child abuse and early marriages in Palorinya refugee settlement
In 2016 when South Sudanese refugees arrived in Palorinya refugee settlement, Moyo district, the situation regarding children’s rights was unfair. This was worsened by the fact that most refuge arrivals were minors including unaccompanied and separated children. Cases of child marriages, school drop outs, discrimination based on sex, child neglect and other violations of children’s rights were rampant.
To fight such unfairness against children, various interventions were designed by different stake holders including humanitarian organisations, the local district council, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), among others. The interventions included; organising child-led risks and hotspot mapping, establishing and supporting reporting and referral pathways for infringements on the rights of children, providing basic items and scholastic materials to unaccompanied and separated children as well as constructing and maintaining protection houses where separated children are accommodated.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) with funds from The People of Japan through ENDVAC designed and implemented a project named – End Violence Against Children. The project was executed all throughout 2018 in Palorinya to prevent and mitigate the effects of child abuse and early marriages.
Some of the activities implemented under the project included an awareness creation and advocacy campaign to end child abuse, early marriages. Through the campaign, the community in Palorinya settlement engaged in pledge taking events to join the fight against child abuse and marriage.
Other than the community at large, the events were graced by social influencers and leaders like; the Moyo district’s Resident State Attorney as well as the OPM Representative in charge of refugee affairs among others from OPM, UNHCR and LWF. Refugee and local council leaders also participated in the awareness and advocacy events aimed at upholding children’s safety and rights.
This photo essay describes the awareness creation and advocacy events executed by LWF in Palorinya settlement to uphold the rights and safety of children.
