Sharjah humanitarian foundation launches global reforms against child trafficking
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Sharjah: The Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) has ramped up its global efforts to combat child trafficking and exploitation, as announced on July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Post-pandemic data shows a 31 per cent rise in detected child trafficking victims worldwide, with nearly 138 million children still trapped in child labour, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF. KSQF said it is addressing the crisis through systemic interventions that tackle the root causes of exploitation, such as displacement, poverty and gender inequality.
“Child protection is not charity but a duty of justice”, said Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of KSQF. Under her leadership, the foundation has adopted a long-term reform approach aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end abuse and trafficking, eliminate child marriage and female genital mutilation and eradicate forced labour.
KSQF recently launched two major initiatives in Zanzibar and Mexico, in partnership with Save the Children International and Plan International.
In Zanzibar, the project will support 1,000 survivors of violence directly and reach 10,000 more through community outreach.
In Mexico, the ‘Guardians of Children’ programme will provide essential aid to 7,000 migrant children and adolescents, with 15,000 additional beneficiaries expected through wider awareness campaigns and capacity-building efforts.
The foundation emphasised the importance of sustainable, locally driven solutions.
“Our focus is to strengthen education, health and social systems so that children are protected well into the future”, KSQF said in a statement.
The move reflects Sharjah’s ongoing humanitarian efforts and Sheikha Jawaher’s vision to build resilience in vulnerable communities, ensuring children are shielded from the interconnected threats of trafficking, labour and exploitation.
