Highlights
Our Success Stories
Highlights from Terre des Hommes projects around the globe
PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATION AND VIOLENCE
No child should put themselves in danger in order to work, and no job should force a child to forfeit their rights. Terre des Hommes is determined to stamp out all forms of exploitation and violence against children – including sexual exploitation – and help create a world where children are free from brutality and abuse.
Combatting webcam child sex
Vulnerable children are at particular risk of being sexually exploited online. Thanks to the efforts of Terre des Hommes (Netherlands), the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament recently allowed for virtual online profiles such as Sweetie (pictured) to be used in the search and possible trial of people looking to procure webcam child sex. Sweetie is a computer- generated child designed to identify and deter online abusers looking to pay children to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam.
Eradicating exploitative child labour
Terre des Hommes (Spain)’s Petite Bonnes project is fighting exploitative child labour in Mauritania. The project will help 1,500 children – many of whom are forced into work and victims of violence – to access basic services like healthcare and education, and will train their families on the problems of keeping their children in work.
Watch how the Petit Bonnes project is tackling child labour in Mauritania
Joining alliances to end violence
Terre des Hommes also acted as part of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, an alliance aiming to end violence, protect children and create safer societies for them to make the Sustainable Development Goal of ending violence by 2030 a reality.
CAMPAIGNING FOR AN END TO CHILD LABOUR IN MICA MINES
Mica is used to give car paint and cosmetics their sparkly shine – but the children mining the mineral in India risk mining collapse and dangerous lung diseases, and are forced to work in the sweltering sun on a daily basis. Terre des Hommes (Netherlands)’s ‘Beauty and a Beast’ report showed why child labour in mica mines should be immediately stopped, and inspired a number of actions from private companies and the Indian government. These included the ‘Responsible Mica Initiative’, which aims to create a child labour-free mica supply chain within the next five years. Research into exploitative child labour has also been used by Terre des Hommes to influence global policies on the topic, such as those set by the International Labour Organization.
PUTTING COLOMBIAN CHILDREN'S VOICES AT THE HEART OF THE PEACE PROCESS
Terre des Hommes (Switzerland) worked to build children's voices into the Colombian peace process by co-organising a Forum for Peace – allowing youths to express their opinions on this historic moment for Colombia. TDH (Switzerland) has protected over 3,000 children in Colombia from the threat of violence from armed groups within schools, their families and the wider community. From providing workshops on child rights and how to avoid violence in Buenaventura to offering psychosocial support to youths involved in gang brutality in Cali, Terre des Hommes (Switzerland) is giving children and youth affected by criminal and paramilitary bloodshed the hope of a better future.
ADVOCATING FOR THE SAFETY OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN
Launched in July 2016, the Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA) is implemented by Terre des Hommes (Netherlands) with Plan International and Defence for Children International, and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It works to ensure that girls and young women are free from all forms of gender-based violence and are economically empowered. The GAA does this by influencing gender stereotypes, social-cultural norms, international legislation and human rights mechanisms within the UN.
