Community prevention strategy and access to protection services to address violence against migrant and refugee children in Peru

• Save the Children, Quinta Ola, and Unión Venezolana will support 20,000 people in Lima, Piura, and Tumbes.

To reduce violence and promote integration in areas with high concentrations of migrant and refugee populations, Save the Children will implement a comprehensive strategy for prevention and care. This initiative prioritizes the protection of the most vulnerable children, particularly girls and adolescents. It is being carried out in partnership with Quinta Ola and Unión Venezolana, with funding from the U.S. Government (BPRM).

Between January and September 2024, Women’s Emergency Centers (CEM) responded to over 124,200 cases of violence against women and family members nationwide. Of these, more than 46,100 cases (around 37%) involved children and adolescents aged 0 to 17.

In response to this concerning reality, the project “Happy, Safe, and Violence-Free Families” will implement community-based actions to foster social integration and empower girls and adolescent girls. The initiative incorporates a feminist education approach to prevent violence and builds capacities to combat discrimination and xenophobia.

“With this project, we will reach over 20,000 people at risk of violence. Our comprehensive intervention approach allows us to protect children from this issue while also contributing to building more inclusive and safer communities for everyone,” explained Roxana Pingo, Migration Program Manager at Save the Children Peru.

The project will be implemented in Lima, Piura, and Tumbes, where local protection system personnel, including Special Protection Units (UPE), will be trained in protocols for assisting migrant and refugee children. Families will also receive information on violence prevention and technical assistance to regularize their migration status, facilitating access to public protection services.

As part of this comprehensive intervention, at-risk cases will be identified and referred to specialized services when necessary. Psychosocial support will also be provided to children at risk, and “menstrual dignity kits” will be distributed to participants in empowerment programs.