Honduras - For the first time, Honduras will undertake a study on child and adolescent well-being, led by the Ministry of Security and coordinated by IOM.

The study seeks to strengthen the capacity of the government to prevent violence against children and adolescents. A national survey will be conducted among young people aged between 13 to 24 years and will research the emotional, physic and sexual violence they are exposed to. The results will also allow a better understanding of the relation between violence and migration.

IOM will coordinate the efforts of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ministry of Security of Honduras and the National Institute of Statistics which will undertake the study.

“IOM will support every action aimed to prevent violence against children and adolescents. We will promote and guarantee their rights based on the findings of the study and other actions framed in this initiative,” said IOM Chief of Mission in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Jorge Peraza Breedy.

Additionally, the research will analyze the risk of violence and its consequences on health. This information will guide the efforts and the policy-making to address the problem.

With this initiative, IOM supports the children and adolescents rights fulfilment in Honduras. “The results of the study will provide reliable data to the Government of Honduras to take actions and implement programs to serve children and adolescents, with emphasis on returned migrant children – one of the most vulnerable groups,” Peraza stated.

The study is part of the Return and Reintegration in the Northern Triangle Program, financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

For further information, please contact Ismael Cruceta at IOM Honduras, Tel: +504 2220-1104, Email: icruceta@iom.int or Alba Amaya at IOM El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, Tel: +503 2521-0511, Email: aamaya@iom.int