Kids Alive Peru partners with Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Office to strengthen national child protection and justice for vulnerable children

11th January 2026 — Lima, Peru

Kids Alive Peru (Niños a la Vida) has signed an agreement with Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Office to work together to better protect children who have experienced sexual abuse. This is the first time Kids Alive has formed a nationwide partnership with the Prosecutor’s Office in Peru.

The two-year agreement sets out how both organisations will cooperate to:

strengthen how institutions support children.
improve how cases of abuse are investigated.
provide better tools and support for children during police, court, and medical examinations.

“This agreement is an important step in protecting children and improving how the justice system responds to abuse,” said Corbey Dukes, President & CEO of Kids Alive International. “Working together at a national level means we can offer better support, use better tools, and make sure children are treated with dignity and listened to throughout the process.”

The agreement was signed in Lima by César Augusto Enríquez Gutiérrez, General Manager of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and Marlene Arroyo Mestanza, Country Director of Kids Alive Peru (Niños a la Vida).

A Big Step Toward Child-Friendly Justice

Through this agreement, Kids Alive Peru and the Public Prosecutor’s Office will work together to:

Support cases of child sexual abuse by sharing experience and good practice on how these cases are handled.
Set up child-friendly interview rooms (special rooms where children can give their testimony safely on video), starting in Pucallpa, Andahuaylas, and Lima — and train staff to use them.
Train prosecutors and forensic staff to work with children in a more caring and sensitive way.
Run joint awareness campaigns and events to help prevent abuse, explain children’s rights, and make it easier for victims to access justice.

For Kids Alive Peru, this agreement builds on years of hands-on collaboration with justice system actors and allows that work to move forward in a more formal and sustainable way.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office is a key strategic partner for us,” said Marlene Arroyo Mestanza, Country Director of Kids Alive Peru. “This agreement opens new doors to work together in training, prevention, and the responsible handling of cases involving children. We are encouraged by the openness and shared vision demonstrated through this partnership and look forward to the impact it will have across the country.”

Strengthening Systems That Protect Children

A key part of this agreement is close teamwork with the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, which is part of the Prosecutor’s Office. Working together helps ensure that investigations and interviews are conducted in ways that don’t cause children further distress and that their safety and well-being come first.

The Prosecutor’s Office has said there is an urgent need for properly equipped video interview rooms, as well as ongoing training for staff. These are important because they allow children to share what happened to them in safe, child-friendly spaces within the justice system.

By officially authorising Kids Alive Peru to provide training, expert support, and assistance in setting up facilities, this agreement strengthens institutions' responses to cases of abuse and ensures everyone involved shares responsibility for protecting children.

Seeing the Impact in Practice

As part of this collaboration, Kids Alive Peru will expand the use of video testimony rooms designed to help children share their testimony in safe, child-sensitive environments. These spaces play a critical role in reducing additional harm during legal proceedings.

This short video offers a glimpse into one of the video testimony rooms Kids Alive has already helped establish—illustrating how thoughtful design, trained professionals, and child-centred processes come together to support children within the justice system.

Looking Ahead

This cooperation agreement paves the way for future joint programmes and projects that strengthen protection, expand access to justice, and improve institutional responses for children and women affected by sexual violence. It reflects a shared commitment to collaboration, professional excellence, and systems that place children at the centre.

View the official Public Prosecutor's Office News Release here.

Posted on February 9th 2026