Lebanon (Enmaeya Features) - November 20, 2025
When Children Speak, Change Begins
In Lebanon, countless children suffer abuse in silence. Silenced not only by fear, but by a society that too often protects family reputation over a child’s wellbeing. On World Children’s Day, Himaya is flipping that script with one powerful truth: a child who is heard is a child who can heal.
For 17 years, Himaya has stood on the frontlines of child protection, ensuring that every child on Lebanese soil, regardless of nationality, background, or economic status, lives free from violence and exploitation. The NGO was born from alarming evidence: one in six children in Lebanon has been subjected to sexual abuse. Since its founding, more than 22,000 children have received protection, support, and a renewed chance at safety.
“Honor and reputation should never come before a child’s safety," a Himaya representative told Enmaeya.
The organization’s newest campaign focuses on a critical shift: turning stories of trauma into stories of transformation. Instead of headlines rooted in shock narratives that sensationalize abuse while yielding little change, the campaign highlights real cases where intervention worked, families chose courage over stigma, and children reclaimed their futures.
“The moment someone takes responsibility, real change happens,” the representative said.
A persistent stereotype claims that abuse mostly affects girls, but Himaya’s data shows 58% of victims are boys and 42% are girls, highlighting the need for a national reckoning.
And in 69% of cases, the perpetrator is a core family member. Meaning the danger is often within the very walls where a child sleeps.
According to Himaya's data, from January to September 2025, 1,367 reports were assessed, 1,028 children received case management, 65% of closed cases had positive safety outcomes, 311 severe cases required legal protection under Law 422, 21% of cases came through the hotline, and 5,718 children benefited from prevention programs.
These are not numbers. They are childhoods saved.
Dismantling the Cycle Through Prevention
While urgent protection stops abuse at the moment, prevention dismantles the system that allows it to occur.
Himaya runs community training, school workshops, counseling programs for caregivers, and youth awareness sessions that teach children the language of protection: how to recognize abuse, and how to speak up.
According to Himaya, parents are also learning new skills: 80% of participants in positive parenting groups show improved understanding of non-violent discipline.
“When communities recognize the signs of abuse, children don’t stay silent,” the representative explained.
Why This Matters Today
World Children’s Day is more than a symbolic observance. Himaya’s call to replace doubt with belief and silence with action is clear.
This is the narrative shift Lebanon desperately needs.
Imagine a Lebanon where a child can report abuse without worrying whether they will be believed. Where communities rally around a survivor instead of silencing them. Where protection is a reflex, not a debate.
Himaya is pushing that future forward with every hotline call answered, every court intervention enacted through Law 422, and every family is empowered to choose their child over stigma. Because when a child is protected, their story doesn’t end with abuse; it begins with power.
If you suspect abuse, speak up. 03414964: Himaya’s Child Protection Hotline Anonymous reporting available. One call can save a child.
