WHO gave the warning
in a statement reflecting on the “the Global Status Report on Preventing
Violence Against Children 2020’’ jointly published by some UN agencies.
The agencies are
WHO, Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO), and the UN Special Representative for ending Violence
against Children – with the End of Violence Partnership.
The statement quoted
Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General as saying, “There is never any excuse
for violence against children.
“We have
evidence-based tools to prevent it, which we urge all countries to implement.
Protecting the health and well-being of children is central to protecting our
collective health and well-being, now and for the future.”
The report is the
first of its kind, charting progress in 155 countries against the “INSPIRE”
framework, a set of seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence
against children.
The report signals a
clear need in all countries to scale up efforts to implement them.
While nearly all
countries (88 per cent) have key laws in place to protect children against
violence, less than half of countries (47 per cent) said these were being
strongly enforced.
The report includes
the first ever global homicide estimates specifically for children under 18
years of age – previous estimates were based on data that included 18 to
19-year olds.
It finds that, in
2017, around 40,000 children were victims of homicide.
The statement quoted
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore as saying “violence against children
has always been pervasive, and now things can be getting much worse.
“Lockdowns, school
closures and movement restrictions have left far too many children stuck with
their abusers, without the safe space that school will normally offer.
“It is urgent to
scale up efforts to protect children during these times and beyond, including
designating social service workers as essential and strengthening child
helplines.”
Of the INSPIRE
strategies, only access to schools through enrollment showed the most progress
with 54 per cent of countries reporting that a sufficient number of children in
need were being reached in this way.
“Between 32 per cent
to 37 per cent of countries considered that victims of violence could access
support services, while 26 per cent of countries provided programmes on parent
and caregiver support.
“21 per cent of
countries had programmes to change harmful norms; and 15 per cent of countries
had modifications to provide safe physical environments for children.
“Although a majority
of countries (83 per cent) have national data on violence against children,
only 21 per cent used these to set baselines and national targets to prevent
and respond to violence against children.
“About 80 per cent
of countries have national plans of action and policies but only one-fifth have
plans that are fully funded or have measurable targets.
“A lack of funding
combined with inadequate professional capacity are likely contributing factors
and a reason why implementation has been slow.’’ the report stated.
The statement
further quoted Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, as saying, “during the
COVID-19 pandemic, and the related school closures, we have seen a rise in
violence and hate online – and this includes bullying.
“Now, as schools begin
to re-open, children are expressing their fears about going back to school.
“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.”
Stay-at-home
measures, including school closures have limited the usual sources of support
for families and individuals such as friends, extended family or professionals.
This further erodes
victims’ ability to successfully cope with crises and the new routines of daily
life. Spikes in calls to helplines for child abuse and intimate partner
violence have been observed.
While online
communities have become central to maintain many children’s learning, support
and play, an increase in harmful online behaviours including cyberbullying,
risky online behavior and sexual exploitation have been identified.
“Whilst this report
was being finalised, confinement measures and the disrupted provision of
already limited child protection services exacerbated the vulnerability of
children to various forms of violence.
“To respond to this
crisis, a unified child rights and multisectoral framework for action for
children is critical, requiring strong mobilisation of governments,
bilateral/multilateral donors, civil society, private sector and children.
“It is critical for
stakeholders whose views must be heard and truly taken into account to ensure
duly protection and the possibility for all to thrive and reach their full
potential,” said Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN’s
Secretary-General on Violence against Children. (NAN)
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