A Study on Children’s Protection Mechanisms in Sudan

One of the recommendations of the UN Study on Violence against Children was for all states to develop a multi-faceted and systematic framework to respond to violence against children which is integrated into their national planning processes. In an effort towards achieving this recommendation and recognizing the central role of communities, Save the Children Sweden’s regional office for Eastern and Central Africa identified the need to learn more about existing child protection structures and mechanisms within the region. Accordingly, Save the Children has commissioned the undertaking of this study, which has the objective of assessing strengths and gaps in existing child protection systems at community level in selected areas of Sudan based on the views of children. The study was conducted in Khartoum state with the participation of 184 children (113 boys and 71 girls) representing different groups of children: street children, displaced children, children with disability, refugee children and children groups from different areas of Khartoum State. The most common child protection issues reported by children are follows: sexual abuse and harassment, child marriage, physical and humiliating punishment, FGM, substance abuse, discrimination, bullying, physical violence and child labour.