Child exploitation through child labor and sexual abuse is still rampant globally especially in low and middle income countries, in a bid to end child exploitation by 2030 Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) has launched the ‘Better Together initiative’, a program that is children centered and prioritizes the well-being of children who have experienced trauma abuse, or exploitation by listening to their opinions, ensuring they are supported emotionally and mentally as they rebuild their lives.
Speaking at the launch, the Regional director Africa Region, Mr. Raphael Kariuki, noted that many children who have suffered exploitation and sexual abuse carry deep scars and deep emotional wounds.
“At Terre des Hommes Netherlands we emphasize on psycho-social support as a critical component of our work, we have integrated counseling and therapy into our programs to help children heal. We have a duty to ensure that the children in our program, many of whom have experienced exploitation and abuse, are not traumatized and re-victimized or exposed to intersecting discrimination.”
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 14,121 people were trafficked globally in 2020, with 35 per cent of these victims being children. This highlights the alarming reality that children remain highly vulnerable to exploitation, both online and offline.
In Kenya, the situation is particularly dire with 45.9 per cent of females and 56.1 per cent of males have experienced childhood violence, this is according to the 2019 National Violence against Children Survey.
TdH Nl operates in 39 countries including Kenya, the better together is part listen up global strategy, better together launch focuses on the root and systemic causes of child exploitation, Mr. Kariuki noted, “We are focused on being a catalyst for systemic change, we hope to do this by empowering children to ask for their rights, connect them to those who can bring about change, we hope through collaboration from like-minded organizations we will be able to curb child exploitation.
The urgency of addressing child exploitation is underscored by the staggering figures “Data shows that the need to stop child exploitation is urgent, globally 160million children are involved in child labor,300 million children are exploited sexually, all these show that there is a dire need to address and stop child exploitation.” He added.
TdH NL collaborates with partners to advocate for children’s rights, focusing on preventing child exploitation and empowering children to make their voices heard. Their work is rooted in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Highlighting poverty as one of the systemic issues that contribute to child exploitation, Mr. Kariuki emphasized the importance of addressing economic vulnerabilities, stating, “Child exploitation in Africa comes in a number of forms but usually stems from poverty. In families and communities living in poverty, children tend to be pushed out of their homes and end up in exploitative situations.”
Negative gender norms also contribute significantly to the exploitation of children. Practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriages place children at higher risk, despite policies against these practices. The lack of full implementation and enforcement of these laws creates gaps that offenders exploit, particularly in situations of power imbalance. This is why TdH NL steps in to amplify the voices of vulnerable children.
Furthermore, the organization’s commitment to mental health is evident in its collaborative approach, partnering with healthcare providers and communities to establish effective referral mechanisms for children and their families. Mr. Kariuki added, “We integrated counseling support because we should support our program designs. We work closely with health providers to ensure a robust referral mechanism for children or families struggling with mental health issues. Psychosocial support is critical for individuals in these circumstances.”
By prioritizing mental and psychological well-being, the Better Together Initiative goes beyond merely rescuing children from harmful situations. In order to recover control over their lives the initiative equips children who have endured trauma and exploitation with a holistic care, this preventive and therapeutic approach is vital for their mental health.
In addition to addressing the immediate needs of exploited children, the Better Together Initiative seeks to change mindsets at the community level. Through community education the initiative aims to promote behavioral change, particularly among parents, this is essential in dismantling the normalization of child exploitation and ensuring that children grow up in safe, nurturing environments.
