The Italian Ambassador to Djibouti (resident in Ethiopia), H.E. Agostino Palese, and UNICEF Representative a.i in Djibouti, Franck Abeille, signed an agreement to strengthen the child protection system in the African country. Italy will finance the program with €1 million.
For the next two years, the initiative, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), will focus on preventing and responding to violence against girls and boys and facilitating access to quality protection and other social services for vulnerable children and families.
The initiative has been developed in close coordination with the competent institutions – Ministry of Woman and Family, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior – but also with non-governmental organizations and local associations to ensure the success of the action and the achievement of the set objectives.
After a first project, running from 2018 to 2020, Italy reaffirms its willingness to continue working with the Djiboutian authorities and UNICEF to support the establishment of a functional and child-friendly justice system and adequate social services in Djibouti.
The Government of Djibouti is currently planning to decentralize the justice system and UNICEF will support this process by providing technical and financial support. The initiative also aims to strengthen social service providers and facilitate access to integrated services that can meet the different needs of the citizens by referring them to the services available within social protection (legal, civil status, education, health, psychologic support).
Social protection services will also offer a package of holistic services to ensure access to the population and reduce costs
Providing a protective environment for young migrants, including children victims of trafficking, is one of the priorities of the Italian Cooperation in Djibouti and at the heart of UNICEF’s strategy in the country.
