World Vision Calls for Increased Efforts to Curb Child Protection Incidents in Mozambique

The non-governmental organization World Vision is urging for more concerted action to address the alarming and ongoing rise in child protection incidents in Mozambique.

"In the first half of this year alone, compared to the same period in 2023, there was a 19% increase in cases of premature union (early unions), sexual abuse, and other violations," warns Maria Carolina, World Vision Country Director. "More than 2,500 children were victims of these heinous crimes."

World Vision cites the most recent report issued by the local Child Helpline (Linha Fala Criança), a public service for reporting and referring child protection and safeguarding incidents, via the free phone number 116.

The increase in reports is attributed to heightened awareness and intolerance of crimes against children's human rights, particularly among girls who are survivors of early marriages.

While the specific reasons for this trend are still being investigated, the persistence of these incidents despite significant efforts to raise awareness about the law and its protections is deeply concerning. World Vision calls on all members of society to ensure that their communities become safe places for children.

Maria Carolina adds, "Nothing justifies early unions, the sexual exploitation of children, or anything else that makes childhood a traumatic experience for a significant number of girls and boys in Mozambique." World Vision, therefore, believes that it is imperative that the existing laws are fully enforced and that those in authority give any gaps in the legislation due and urgent attention."

World Vision has been a partner of the Child Helpline for several years, providing technical and logistical support, especially with a view to its expansion and sustainability. 

In May this year, World Vision warned of a growing trend in child incidents, based once again on report issued by the Child Helpline, which concluded that in the first quarter, the Line recorded at least one child incident violation every two hours.

WV-Moz also called for the recognition and appreciation of the Child Helpline for the public service it provides and recommends that the government consider leading collective efforts to mobilize technical and financial resources to enable not only the operation but also the expansion of the Child Helpline.