The Guardians of Children programme has helped protect more than 22,000 children and families in Mexico by providing safe spaces, healthcare and support to reduce the risk of human trafficking and exploitation.
SHARJAH: The Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable children from human trafficking, highlighting that its Guardians of Children programme has reached more than 22,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries in Mexico.
Marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, the foundation said early intervention remains one of the most effective ways to safeguard children and adolescents travelling along migration routes, where they face heightened risks of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.
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Implemented in partnership with Plan International, the Guardians of Children programme provides protection and care services to around 7,000 migrant children and adolescents in Tapachula, Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez. Through community awareness campaigns and capacity-building initiatives, the programme has also benefited more than 15,000 additional people, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 22,000.
The foundation noted that children travelling through Mexico continue to face significant risks. During the first nine months of 2024, Mexican authorities recorded 113,542 cases of irregular migration involving children and adolescents, including nearly 6,700 unaccompanied minors, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, violence and exploitation.
KSQF stressed that migration itself does not automatically place children at risk of trafficking. However, the lack of safe shelter, healthcare, education and trusted support networks can leave them more exposed to criminal groups that exploit their need for transport, accommodation or employment.
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Through the Guardians of Children programme, children receive access to safe spaces, psychosocial support, mobile healthcare services and referrals to specialised child protection agencies. The initiative also trains shelter workers, healthcare professionals, volunteers and local communities to recognise signs of trafficking and respond using established child protection procedures.
Lujan Mourad, Director of KSQF, said protecting children begins with prevention and timely intervention.
“A child who lacks safe shelter, healthcare and trusted support is more vulnerable to exploitation. Through this programme, we provide integrated services that protect migrant children and adolescents while safeguarding their rights and dignity.”
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The programme forms part of the foundation’s broader humanitarian work to combat child trafficking, forced labour, forced marriage and exploitation worldwide. In 2025, KSQF launched humanitarian initiatives in Morocco, Mexico and Zanzibar, benefiting more than 36,000 people. The foundation has also partnered with UNICEF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a programme aimed at tackling child labour and exploitation in mining communities.
KSQF said its international projects share a common goal of strengthening child protection systems, addressing the root causes of vulnerability and ensuring children can grow up in safe, supportive environments.
