Over the past weeks, it has become clear that the impact of COVID-19 is far greater than the global community originally foresaw.
The current narrative suggests children are among those least affected. But the opposite is true, in many ways.
For instance, children are disproportionally among the poor and vulnerable, the population group that will suffer most as the virus spreads into low-income countries with weaker healthcare systems. The millions living in crowded informal settlements will be unable to practice social distancing nor have access to adequate sanitation and so are especially at risk.
Already 1.5 billion learners are out of school. Experience from other crises teaches us that many will never return to their education, damaging their prospects for a lifetime. And without the protection afforded by education systems and care structures, millions of children, and particularly girls, are at higher risk of sexual abuse, domestic violence, shortage of food and neglect. COVID-19 threatens also to increase the number of separated and unaccompanied minors as elder caregivers are at high risk of mortality from the virus.
Therefore, SOS Children Villages South Africa, as part of the Joining Forces group, an alliance of the world’s six largest child-focused organisations, are calling on governments to put concrete measures in place to protect children during the COVID-19 crisis. The recommendations are hosted on the Child Rights Now Organisation’ website.
Our goal is to ensure children can access nutrition, adequate care, health, protection from violence, alternative education provision at home and reliable information on the crisis to help them cope with the psychological impact of the disease.
