Africa-Press – Cape verde. SOS Children’s Villages Cabo Verde is holding a workshop on Wednesday in São Filipe, on Fogo Island, to discuss and identify mechanisms to combat sexual violence against children and adolescents, as part of the “Djunta Mom” project.
The initiative, under the slogan “Let’s talk about sexual violence against children and adolescents,” aims to promote constructive dialogue with grassroots community associations, local authorities, and institutional partners, with the goal of strengthening the collective response to the problem of child sexual abuse and exploitation, the organization announced.
The “Djunta Mom: preventing child and adolescent sexual abuse and supporting victims” project is funded by the European Union and is part of the effort to build a national protection system that prevents abuse and ensures support for victims.
According to the organization, the choice of Fogo Island for the workshop is related to the fact that it was one of the islands, along with Santiago, that recorded the highest number of reports in 2023.
The municipality of São Filipe, in particular, recorded 32 cases of sexual abuse last year, with the communities of Beltchés, Patim, and Monte Grande directly benefiting from the initiative.
The workshop will feature representatives from the São Felipe District Prosecutor’s Office, the Adventist Church, and the Ministry of Education delegation, as well as leaders from community associations in the three benefited areas.
Among the highlighted topics are “the role of the family in preventing child and adolescent sexual abuse” and “the impact of sexual violence on the psychological, emotional, and behavioral health of victims.”
The local coordinator of SOS Children’s Villages emphasizes that the main objective of the workshop is to “involve the entire community in a process of reflection and joint action, promoting awareness, education, and prevention to drastically reduce cases of child sexual abuse.”
The initiative also has the institutional support of partners such as the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and Adolescents (ICCA), the Association of Women Jurists (AMJ), Verdefam, Acrides, ICIEG, and Cape Verdean Radio and Television (RTC).
The workshop is open to parents, educators, community leaders, and local authorities, demonstrating that combating sexual violence against children is a collective and urgent responsibility.
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