Early Marriages and Sexual Violence Persist Despite Legal Progress, Warns World Vision Mozambique

Maputo, August 15, 2025 – 907 children were victims of sexual violence and early marriage in the first half of this year across the country. These cases were reported to Mozambique’s Child Helpline (Linha Fala Criança - Portuguese), a free public service accessible nationwide by dialing 116. The non-governmental organization World Vision Mozambique (WV-Moz) believes that this data reinforces the urgency and importance of redoubling current efforts to protect children, especially the most vulnerable.

According to the LFC, Zambézia was, during the period in question, the capital of early marriages with 143 cases, followed by Cabo Delgado and Sofala, with 79 and 73 cases, respectively, in the ranking of the three provinces with the highest incidence of such incidents. With regard to sexual assaults, Nampula, with 83 cases, Cabo Delgado and Manica, both with 75 cases, top the list that includes the remaining seven provinces of the country and the capital Maputo.

“In recent years, our country has made remarkable progress with the approval of critical legal instruments for child protection. However, it is essential to understand and accept that legislation is not an end, but a means through which we can strive for a better present and future for our children,” said Simione Mhula, Technical Manager for Child Protection at WV-Moz.

Although the reported cases highlight the degree of vulnerability and exposure of children to abuse and violations, the reality on the ground may be even worse, as many victims do not have access to the helpline. To address this challenge, WV-Moz recommends that the government lead collective efforts to mobilize technical and financial resources to ensure not only the continued operation but also the expansion of the Child Helpline.