Africa takes measures to protect children from violence in time of COVID-19

A health worker teaches children how to wash their handsduring a door-to-door testing in an attempt to contain the coronavirus disease(COVID-19) outbreak, in Umlazi township near Durban, South Africa, April 4,2020. [Photo/Agencies]

As daily lives and communities areupset by the coronavirus pandemic, concern is mounting that children's exposureto violence may increase. Children with a history of abuse may find themselveseven more vulnerable, and may experience more frequent and severe acts ofviolence. Others may be victimized for the first time.

A new UNICEF publication, ProtectingChildren from Violence in the Time of COVID-19: Disruptions in Prevention andResponse Services, documents what has happened to such services in Africa, aswell as other continents.

According to UNICEF, the Ebolaoutbreak in West Africa revealed how systems such as child welfare structuresand community mechanisms were weakened and child protection responses weredelayed or otherwise affected.

That is why a systematic review thatexplored child abuse within the context of natural disasters and conflictsfound that, while the level of violence against children increased after theonset of many emergencies, reporting of such violence was lower as a result ofdisruptions in services, infrastructure and reporting mechanisms.

However, the UNICEF report revealedAfrica has fared well due to lessons learned from the previous outbreak andranks fourth in global regions for reporting service disruptions. South Asiahas the highest proportion, followed by Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In Kenya for instance, severalmeasures have been put in place following the coronavirus outbreak, includingtechnical and financial support to the Child Helpline, which now allowscounselors to access calls remotely and advocacy to include child protection asan essential service in the COVID-19 response.

Elsewhere, in Guinea-Bissau, supportfor mobile services in urban and rural settings to prevent domestic violence,violence against children, child marriage and female genital mutilation in 109rural communities and the city of Bissau were carried out until the end of June2020.

Violence prevention and response serviceshave been severely disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving children atincreased risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, according to the globalsurvey by UNICEF.

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF ExecutiveDirector, said "we are just beginning to fully understand the damage doneto children because of their increased exposure to violence during pandemiclockdowns."

"Ongoing school closures andmovement restrictions have left some children stuck at home with increasinglystressed abusers. The subsequent impact on protection services and socialworkers means children have nowhere to turn for help." Fore said.

The report noted as countries adoptedprevention and control measures to contain the coronavirus, vital violenceprevention and response services were suspended or interrupted as a result.More than half of the countries reported disruptions in case management,referral services and home visits by child welfare and social workers tochildren and women at risk of abuse.

"Too many children rely on childprotection systems to keep them safe. In times of crisis, governments must haveimmediate and long-term measures that protect children from violence, includingdesignating and investing in social service workers as essential, strengtheningchild helplines and making positive parenting resources available," Foresaid.