Call for Expression of Interest: Preventing Child Trafficking and Violence in Gabon
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The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has launched a significant initiative in Gabon's Estuaire region, aimed at strengthening child protection and access to essential rights.
This program focuses on a wide range of protection sectors, including access to asylum, birth registration, child protection, detention and freedom of movement, family reunification, gender-based violence, legal assistance, crime prevention, and general protection advice and support.
The partnership with civil society organizations is expected to yield several important results. It will build the capacity of community actors in targeted areas to effectively combat violence, child trafficking, abandonment, child labor, and other serious deprivations affecting children. By empowering these local stakeholders, the program seeks to create safer and more supportive environments for vulnerable children.
Another critical component is the development and implementation of accessible and secure reporting mechanisms that comply with international standards such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and local child protection laws. These systems will ensure that cases of abuse or neglect are reported and addressed promptly and appropriately.
The program also emphasizes holistic care for children affected by violence and trafficking, whether internal or cross-border, providing comprehensive support tailored to the specific needs of each child. Beyond direct protection services, the initiative promotes children's rights and encourages shifts in social and cultural norms to foster greater awareness and respect for those rights.
To uphold high standards of child protection, the program aims to have at least seven civil society organizations align with internationally recognized guidelines for preventing abuse and sexual exploitation of children. This alignment will strengthen the overall network of protection actors and ensure consistent, high-quality interventions.
With a funding allocation of $100,000, this UNICEF-led initiative represents a meaningful step towards improving child protection frameworks and enhancing the wellbeing of children in the Estuaire region of Gabon.
