#creating awareness

The situation of crisis produced by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses major challenges to societies all over the world. While efforts to contain the virus are vital to protect global health, these same efforts are exposing children and adolescents to an increased risk of family violence. Various criminological theories explain the causes of this new danger. The social isolation required by the measures taken in the different countries, the impact on jobs, the economic instability, high levels of tension and fear of the virus, and new forms of relationships have all increased levels of stress in the most vulnerable families and, therefore, the risk of violence. In addition, mandatory lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the disease have trapped children in their homes, isolating them from the people and the resources that could help them. In general, the restrictive measures imposed in many countries have not been accompanied by an analysis of the access to the resources needed to reduce this risk. It is necessary to take urgent measures to intervene in these high-risk contexts so that children and adolescents can develop and prosper in a society which is likely to undergo profound changes, but in which the defense of their rights and protection must remain a major priority.

She notes that a majority of these reports also tend to be made during visits with pediatricians and primary care doctors. But the pandemic has put a pause on those appointments, too—and has also caused children to miss their immunizations.

Awareness campaign on verbal child abuse

Child Abuse PSA

In a world where children were seen as fully human, people who consistently shout at children would be seen as having an anger management problem and would be given support to deal with it. Teachers that shout at children would be sent on a communication course, and the government would offer all parents who need it education and resources on how to communicate respectfully with children, how to parent in a way that they haven’t experienced themselves.