KPHE’s Protection and Human Rights Action programming addresses the wide range of protection risks and human rights violations affecting vulnerable populations in South and Central Somalia. Protracted conflict, recurrent displacement, weak rule of law, and harmful social norms expose women, children, elderly persons, minorities, and persons with disabilities to heightened risks. Key protection concerns include gender-based violence (GBV), child protection violations, forced displacement, family separation, exploitation, and limited access to justice and basic civil documentation.
Interventions include comprehensive GBV prevention and response services, child protection programming, psychosocial support, and legal awareness initiatives. KPHF establishes safe spaces for women, girls, and children where survivors can access confidential counseling, structured psychosocial support, case management, and referral services to health, legal, and protection actors. Community-based GBV prevention activities engage men, boys, elders, and religious leaders to challenge harmful practices and promote positive social norms that protect women and girls.
Child protection interventions focus on preventing abuse, neglect, exploitation, and early or forced marriage.
KPHF supports child-friendly spaces, family tracing and reunification, and community-based child protection committees to monitor risks and promote the best interests of the child. Special attention is given to children affected by conflict, displacement, and loss of caregivers.
Protection mainstreaming is integrated across all KPHF sectors to ensure assistance is delivered in a safe, dignified, inclusive, and conflict-sensitive manner. Staff and community volunteers are trained on protection principles, accountability to affected populations, and safeguarding. Human rights awareness campaigns promote access to justice, civil documentation, land and housing rights, and community accountability mechanisms, particularly for internally displaced persons.
Through advocacy, coordination with protection actors, and community-led protection initiatives, KPHF contributes to safer environments, strengthened social protection systems, and enhanced respect for human rights across Somalia.
