World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
Giving children a voice through documentation
As the world marks World Day for the Prevention and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, it is a moment to pause and reflect on how society can move beyond awareness toward empowerment. One of the most meaningful ways to do this is to give children agency, the power to speak, question, and propose solutions, through documentation. When children’s voices are recorded, acknowledged, and acted upon, their stories become more than memories of pain; they become lessons for prevention and tools for change.
Across Africa, the need to protect children from sexual exploitation remains urgent. However, efforts to protect them cannot succeed without listening to the very people at the heart of the issue: children themselves. Documenting their thoughts and experiences helps adults, policymakers, and educators better understand what safety, justice, and healing mean from a child’s point of view. It also gives children the confidence to know that their perspectives matter.
Over the years, several initiatives have sought to centre children’s voices in the conversation on rights and protection.
Hear Our Stories: Take Action was developed with this goal in mind. The book educates children, particularly girls, about their human rights in a simple, accessible way. Kenyan lawyers and psychologists respond to real questions raised by children, addressing issues around safety, justice, and well-being. Through relatable illustrations and plain language, the book helps young readers understand their rights and where to seek help when they face abuse or exploitation. More importantly, it affirms that children’s voices are being heard and that there is a shared responsibility to protect them at home, in schools, and within the wider community.
Similarly, Je Wajua? Maswali ya Watoto Kuhusu Haki Zao extends this commitment. Written in Kiswahili, it serves as both an educational and empowerment tool. The book features real stories from children who have bravely shared their painful experiences. Their stories send a strong message to other children that silence is not safety, and speaking out is a step toward protection. By translating the book and illustrating it in ways that reflect local realities, the message becomes accessible to more children who may otherwise never hear it.
These projects draw inspiration from The Sound of Silence: 25 Conversations in 25 Schools in Africa, an initiative by Equality Now that invited over 2,300 girls aged 12 to 18 from Gambia, Kenya, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda to speak about their experiences. The initiative’s central message was clear: breaking the silence is the first step toward healing and change. Through open conversations, they discussed human rights, gender equality, and safety. Many of their questions were later addressed using Kenyan legal and psychological perspectives, offering guidance to those who needed it most.
Complementing these works is Kitabu cha Mwongozo cha Stadi za Maisha, a life skills guide developed jointly by the Young Strong Mothers Foundation and Equality Now. This resource equips teachers in Kenya and Tanzania with tools to help students handle the challenges of growing up, from managing emotions to making responsible decisions. Translated into Kiswahili, it ensures inclusivity and practical use across communities.
All these initiatives share a common goal: to transform stories of suffering into sources of knowledge and empowerment. Documentation, when led with care and respect, does more than record experiences; it helps communities understand, respond, and prevent future harm.
Therefore, our call to action today is to remind everyone that every child has a voice worth hearing. Listening, documenting, and learning from those voices is not only a form of protection but also a foundation for healing and lasting change.
