The COVID-19 pandemic is causing destruction all across the world. The attempts to contain the virus are extremely crucial to the health of the world’s population, however, they are also exposing children to increased risk of violence including, maltreatment, sexual exploitation, and gender-based violence.
With a third of the global population on COVID-19 lockdown, schools are closed down, affecting more than 1.5 billion children. The restriction of movement, high levels of anxiety and stress, loss of income, and overcrowding are increasing the chances that children experience and/or observe physical, sexual, and psychological abuse at home.
Especially one’s already living in violent or harsh family situations. Furthermore, online platforms have now become fundamental for many children, with aspects due to learning, support, and entertainment. But this increased amount of screen time is risking exposure to cyberbullying, uncertain online behavior, and sexual exploitation.
The situation is worsened by children’s lack of interaction with their friends, teachers, and social workers, along with the loss of safe space that schools provide. Children who are internally displaced, deprived of liberty, living without parental care, living on the street, or are refugees and migrants are the most vulnerable. For many youths, the growing economic and social vulnerability increases the threat of child labor, child marriage, and child trafficking.
Governments have an essential role to play in this situation. They must ensure that COVID-19 prevention and response plans combine age-appropriate and gender-sensitive measures to protect all children from violence, neglect, and abuse. Child protection services and workers must be allocated and resourced appropriately.
And given the heightened risk of online harm, technology companies must do everything they can to keep children safe online. Including, access to cost-free child helplines, age-appropriate services, and safe e-education platforms. They should also act faster to detect and stop harmful activity against children online, including the creation and distribution of child abuse images and videos.
In recent years, the global community has made significant progress in protecting children against violence. We cannot allow these advances to be lost during the current devastation. Children must be kept safe. We must plan together so that while this health crisis is being dealt with, we can also focus on the goal of ending all forms of violence, neglect, and abuse against children.
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