- August 19, 2020
Children’s Exposure To Violence May Increase– UNICEF
UNICEF —— As daily lives and communities are upended by COVID-19, concern is mounting that children’s exposure to violence may increase.
Children with a history of abuse may find themselves even more vulnerable, both at home and online, and may experience more frequent and severe acts of violence. Others may be victimized for the first time.
During the current crisis, identifying children at risk is inherently more challenging, given that many adults who would typically recognize signs of abuse, such as teachers, extended family and community members, and welfare workers, are no longer in regular contact with children.
Understanding the current status of violence prevention and response services is therefore essential to assessing risks to children.
A new UNICEF publication, Protecting Children from Violence in the Time of COVID-19: Disruptions in prevention and response services
(https://data.unicef.org/resources/protecting-children-from-violence-in-the-time-of-COVID-19-brochure) , documents what has happened to such services across the world.
Here are some highlights:
* 1.8 billion children live in the 104 countries where violence prevention and response services have been disrupted due to COVID-19
* Case management and home visits for children and women at risk of abuse are among the most commonly disrupted services
* Around two thirds of countries with disruptions reported that at least one type of service had been severely affected; however, 70 per cent of countries reported that mitigation measures had been put into place
Access the publication
(https://data.unicef.org/resources/protecting-children-from-violence-in-the-time-of-COVID-19-brochure)
Learn more about UNICEF’s data work on violence against children
(https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/violence/)
In times of crisis, governments should prioritize maintaining or adapting critical prevention and response services to protect children from violence, including strengthening child helplines, supporting mental health programmes and making available positive parenting resources.
In addition to the critical role of health care workers, social service professionals must also be acknowledged as an essential part of the COVID-19 response, thereby recognizing these unsung heroes of the crisis and the vital support they provide to children and families.
Contact ————-
Mark Hereward
Associate Director, Data & Analytics
Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring
UNICEF
Cornelius Williams
Associate Director, Child Protection
Programme Division
UNICEF
