COVID-19: Child Abuse Cases Have Risen Due To School Closure – WHO Report
In a research conducted across 155 countries, it was discovered that there was a surge in “physical, sexual and psychological” violence against children.
The Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020, published on Thursday, on the World Health Organization’s website, revealed that the covid-19 pandemic which had led to schools being closed across nations, affected most children in a negative way.
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A survey by the Kenyan Ministry of Health Information, also stated that teen pregnancies surged during the Coronavirus lockdown.
It added that about 3,964 girls under the age grade of 19 were reported pregnant.
WHO stressed that because people could not move about, certain abuses took place with none to help.
Furthermore, it added that the wrong use of the internet was influencing children badly.
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“During the COVID-19 pandemic, and the related school closures, we have seen a rise in violence and hate online – and this includes bullying, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, noted.
The report also stated that the fear created by the pandemic was also making numerous students scared of returning to school.
Moreover, the report stated that for schools to reopen, it must be deemed safe against covid-19.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that schools are safe environments for all children. We need to think and act collectively to stop violence at school and in our societies at large,” the report added.
The report also revealed that many countries were weak in terms of the creation and the implementation of policies that protects child rights.
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The report added that “countries have failed to follow established strategies to protect them.”
Hence, the report, in a set of frameworks, called for the strengthening of legislation towards the prevention of violence against children as well as the promotion of good governance.
Also , the report recommended that government should prioritize data collection , so they could effectively follow up on developments.
WHO’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom also, stressed that “protecting the health and well-being of children is central to protecting our collective health and well-being, now and for the future.”
