Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children
Children and young people are seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple areas including health, safety and protection issues, educational impacts, economic impacts, and impact on civic space and participation. This crisis is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities experienced by young people, all further amplified in humanitarian contexts where fragility, conflict, and emergencies have undermined institutional capacity and limited access to services.[1][2]
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School closures
School closures and overstretched health care systems will also have acute effects on young women and girls. By the end of March 2020, UNESCO estimated that over 89% of the world's student population were out of school or university because of school closures due to COVID-19, forcing many learners online and putting those in low-tech or no-internet environments at a severe disadvantage. Young women and girls living in poverty, with disabilities, or in rural, isolated locations are more likely to be pulled out of school first to compensate for increased care and domestic work at home.[3]
Impact on most at-risk groups
Child safety is at risk during the pandemic. Children who are living in unsanitary and crowded conditions are particularly at risk.[4] Youth, especially young women, indigenous peoples, migrants, and refugees, face heightened socio-economic and health impacts and an increased risk of gender-based violence due to movement restrictions, discrimination and more. They are also more prone to child marriage and other forms of violence as families find ways to alleviate economic burdens.[5][6][7][8]
Reports of child abuse have declined in the United States, with an average 40.6% decline in U.S. states in April 2020 compared to April 2019. Child welfare advocates have claimed that the drop is caused by the closure of schools and day care centres, which have historically made the most reports of child abuse, and that the actual amount of child abuse is likely under reported and higher than the data indicates.[9][10]
Unemployment
Unemployment, too, will hit young people particularly hard: Following the 2008 Economic Recession, youth unemployment rates were significantly higher in many places than overall averages, and the recent expansion of the gig economy will likely heighten this disparity. Before the pandemic even hit, there was already an upward trend in the number of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET). Out of some 267 million young people globally classified as NEET, two-thirds, or 181 million, are young women.[11][12]
Impact on young migrants
This global crisis is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities experienced by young people, all further amplified in humanitarian contexts where fragility, conflict, and emergencies have undermined institutional capacity and limited access to services.[1][13] Young migrants, young people who are internally displaced and refugees, young people living in poor, high-density urban areas, young people without a home, young people living with disabilities, those living with HIV will be particularly affected; young people separated from, unaccompanied, or left behind by migrant working parents face higher risks of exploitation, violence, and mental health issues, and already poor access to health services and protection.[1][13]
Sources
References
- "COVID-19: Working with and for young people". www.unfpa.org. May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- Harvard Health Publishing (15 May 2020). "Coronavirus outbreak and kids". Harvard Health. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- "Covid-19 school closures around the world will hit girls hardest". UNESCO. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "Impact of Covid-19 on Children". 8 May 2020.
- "UN Secretary-General's policy brief: The impact of COVID-19 on women | Digital library: Publications". UN Women. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- UN Women. Families in a changing world / UN Women. New York:. ISBN 1-63214-156-6. OCLC 1120137550.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
- Women, U. N. "How COVID-19 impacts women and girls". interactive.unwomen.org. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "Gender equality matters in COVID-19 response". UN Women. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "Is the U.S. coronavirus lockdown hiding a surge in child abuse?". NBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "Advocates concerned over drop in reported child abuse cases in NYC". FOX 5 NY. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "Youth exclusion from jobs and training on the rise". www.ilo.org. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020: Technology and the future of jobs". 9 March 2020. Cite journal requires
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(help) - CDC (11 February 2020). "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 5 June 2020.