KSQF steps up international action to safeguard children

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marked annually on July 30, the global community is once again confronted with a deeply uncomfortable truth: children are among the most exploited, most vulnerable, and least protected populations in the world.

Child exploitation and human trafficking have surged post-pandemic, with a 31% rise in detected child trafficking victims. Meanwhile, nearly 138 million children remain trapped in child labour globally, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF — a slight decline from previous estimates of 160 million, but still alarmingly high. These figures not only underscore the scale of the crisis but also illustrate the cyclical nature of harm, where each crisis further entrenches children in a system of exploitation and abuse.

As governments, NGOs, and advocacy groups spotlight the growing threats of exploitation, one organisation is pushing the conversation beyond awareness and toward urgent, systemic action.

The Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF), based in Sharjah, is implementing a proactive strategy to protect children by rewiring the structures that allow abuse, trafficking, and injustice to persist.

KSQF recognises that today’s crises are interconnected; displacement caused by climate disasters leads to school dropouts, heightening children’s exposure to trafficking, and conflict and poverty push children into labour and criminal networks.

Gender inequality multiplies these risks; especially for girls subjected to sexual exploitation and boys forced into armed groups or illicit work.

The Foundation recognises that no single issue can be solved in isolation, and that meaningful protection requires a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach.

Committed to the protection of children as its core mandate and overarching objective, KSQF’s efforts also directly align with three key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 16.2, which calls for ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children; SDG 5.3, which seeks to eliminate child, early, and forced marriage practices as well as female genital mutilation; and SDG 8.7, dedicated to eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour in all its forms.

“Protection is no longer just about rescue—it’s about structural prevention,” says Lujan Mourad, Director of KSQF.

“The Foundation is implementing a comprehensive strategy encompassing three main pillars of advocacy programmes, safeguarding initiatives and capacity building. This involves prevention, specifically community awareness and development programmes; support, focusing on caring for and safeguarding children in need; and partnerships, building a global network of collaborations.”

At the heart of this vision is the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Foundation, and one of the region’s foremost advocates for children’s rights and global humanitarian development. Her Highness’s commitment to the dignity and safety of children transcends borders, backgrounds, and bureaucracies.

She has instilled in KSQF a bold humanitarian philosophy: that child protection is not an act of charity, but a duty of justice.

Her leadership has steered the Foundation towards long-term, sustainable action that addresses the root causes of vulnerability and amplifies the voices of those too often unheard.

KSQF recently launched its first global initiatives aimed at protecting over 30,000 vulnerable children and their communities in Zanzibar and Mexico.

In partnership with Save the Children International and Plan International, these projects tackle urgent issues like gender-based violence, child exploitation, and the hazards faced by migrant children. In Zanzibar, KSQF is expanding support services for survivors of violence, directly benefiting 1,000 individuals and reaching another 10,000 through community outreach.

In Mexico, the “Guardians of Children” project will provide essential aid and protection to 7,000 migrant children and adolescents, while indirectly supporting more than 15,000 people through awareness campaigns and community capacity building.