The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has stepped up efforts to protect children from harmful practices and gender-based violence through sensitisation campaigns targeting learners in Wajir County.
The outreach focused on raising awareness of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).
The programme targeted learners at Wagberi Primary School and Wajir Girls Secondary School, equipping them with knowledge of their rights, how to identify abuse and the appropriate channels for reporting violations.
The initiative was conducted under the European Union-funded Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery (PLEAD II), which supports efforts to improve access to justice and strengthen legal protection.
A key focus of the sessions was emerging technology-related offences, highlighting the need for children to understand the risks they may face online and the steps they can take to seek help when confronted with exploitation or abuse.
The learners were also sensitised on reporting mechanisms and referral pathways to help victims access the appropriate support and protection services.
The partnership between ODPP and UNODC underscores the importance of educating children about their rights and strengthening awareness of legal safeguards against abuse, both in schools and in digital spaces.
The initiative comes amid growing calls for stronger child protection measures and increased awareness of gender-based violence, particularly as technology creates new avenues through which children and young people may be targeted.
Through such outreach programmes, the agencies aim to empower learners with the knowledge needed to recognise harmful practices, report abuse and seek assistance through the appropriate channels.
