New Delhi, Aug 20: Violence prevention and response services have been severely disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving children at increased risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, according to a global survey by UNICEF.
Of 136 countries that responded to UNICEF’s Socio-Economic Impact Survey of Covid-19 Response, 104 countries reported a disruption in services related to violence against children.
South Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia have the highest proportion among countries reporting disruptions in availability of child protection services. Around two-thirds of countries reported that at least one service had been severely affected, including South Africa, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan.
“We are just beginning to fully understand the damage done to children because of their increased exposure to violence during pandemic lockdowns,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
“Ongoing school closures and movement restrictions have left some children stuck at home with increasingly stressed abusers. The subsequent impact on protection services and social workers means children have nowhere to turn for help.”
More than half of the countries reported disruptions in case management, referral services and home visits by child welfare and social workers, leaving many children and women at risk of abuse.
Violence prevention programmes, children’s access to child welfare authorities, and national helpline services have also been impacted in many countries, according to the responses.
Even before the pandemic, children’s exposure to violence was widespread, with about half of the world’s children experiencing corporal punishment at home; roughly 3 in 4 children — aged 2 to 4 years — were regularly subjected to forms of violent discipline; and 1 in 3 adolescent girls — aged 15 to 19 — having been victimised by their intimate partner at some point in their lives.
UNICEF India is working with CHILDLINE, which has been declared an emergency service by the Government of India to handle some of the immediate and long-term consequences of Covid-19 related to protection of children.
CHILDLINE has received 4.6 lakh calls in 21 days from March 20 to April 10. Nearly 10,000 of these were intervention cases which required CHILDLINE staff to reach the children in need of support. Of these 30 per cent were related to Covid-19 and with a need for protection from abuse and exploitation.
The Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India in collaboration with UNICEF organised a nation-wide online training for 16,000 child protection functionaries and counsellors including CHILDLINE functionaries after the Covid-19 lockdown.
UNICEF in partnership with state government departments and CHILDLINE have reached 2,18,835 children and their parents or caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support services in 17 states. UNICEF has also provided Personal Protection Equipment to 11,000 CHILDLINE frontline workers to enable them to take the necessary precautions even as they work on the ground with communities at risk during the ongoing health crisis.
UNICEF Representative in India, Dr Yasmin Ali Haque said, “UNICEF is committed to supporting the Government of India and partners in strengthening frontline services and personnel as it is an integral part of the overall child protection system and critical for the prevention and response to violence against children during Covid-19 and beyond.” (Agencies)
COVID-19 pandemic leaves children at increased risk of violence: Study
