The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact across the world. Efforts to contain the coronavirus are vital to the health of the world’s population, but they are also exposing children to increased risk of violence – including maltreatment, gender-based violence and sexual exploitation.
As leaders of organisations committed to ending violence against children, we come together in solidarity to share our deep concern, call for action and pledge our support to protect children from violence and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on children in every country and community.
A third of the global population is on COVID-19 lockdown, and school closures have impacted more than 1.5 billion children. Movement restrictions, loss of income, isolation, overcrowding and high levels of stress and anxiety are increasing the likelihood that children experience and observe physical, psychological and sexual abuse at home – particularly those children already living in violent or dysfunctional family situations. And while online communities have become central to maintain many children’s learning, support and play, it is also increasing their exposure to cyberbullying, risky online behavior and sexual exploitation.
The situation is aggravated by children’s lack of access to schoolfriends, teachers, social workers and the safe space and services that schools provide. The most vulnerable children – including refugees, migrants, and children who are internally displaced, deprived of liberty, living without parental care, living on the street and in urban slums, with disabilities, and living in conflict-affected areas – are a particular concern. For many, growing economic vulnerability will increase the threat of child labour, child marriage and child trafficking.
We must act now. Together, we call on governments, the international community and leaders in every sector to urgently respond with a united effort to protect children from the heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse as part of the broader response to COVID-19.
Governments have a central role to play. They must ensure that COVID-19 prevention and response plans integrate age appropriate and gender sensitive measures to protect all children from violence, neglect and abuse. Child protection services and workers must be designated as essential and resourced accordingly.
Working with and supporting governments, our collective response must include: maintaining essential health and social welfare services, including mental health and psychosocial support; providing child protection case management and emergency alternative care arrangements; ensuring social protection for the most vulnerable children and households; continuing care and protection for children in institutions; and communicating with and engaging parents, caregivers and children themselves with evidence-based information and advice. National helplines, school counsellors and other child-friendly reporting mechanisms enable children in distress to reach out for help, and must be adapted to the challenges of COVID-19.
Given the heightened risks of online harms, technology companies and telecoms providers must do everything they can to keep children safe online. This includes providing access to cost-free child helplines, age-appropriate services and safe e-education platforms - and using their platforms to share child online safety advice. They must also do more to detect and stop harmful activity against children online, including grooming and the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse images and videos.
As global organisations working to end violence against children, we will continue to advocate for and invest in effective child protection solutions. We will collectively develop and share technical resources and guidance for policymakers, practitioners, parents, caregivers and children themselves. And we will support the courageous health, child protection and humanitarian professionals working around the clock to keep children safe during these unprecedented times.
In recent years, the global community has made significant gains in protecting children from violence. We must not allow those gains to be lost during the current turmoil. We must do all we can to keep children safe now. And we must plan ahead together, so that once the immediate health crisis is over, we can get back on track towards the goal of ending all forms of violence, abuse and neglect of children.
Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF;
Board Chair, End Violence Against Children
Najat Maalla M’jid,
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,
Executive Director, UN Women
Dr. Joan Nyanyuki,
Executive Director, African Child Policy Forum
Rev. Keishi Miyamoto,
President, Arigatou International
Meg Gardinier,
Secretary General, ChildFund Alliance
Patrick Krens,
Executive Director, Child Helpline International
Robbert Van Den Berg,
Executive Director, ECPAT International
Dr. Howard Taylor,
Executive Director, End Violence Against Children
Tufail Muhammad,
President, ISPCAN
Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen,
CEO, Plan International
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
Director-General, WHO
Virginia Gamba,
United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
Inger Ashing,
CEO, Save the Children International
Steffen Braasch,
CEO, SOS Children’s Villages International
Delphine Moralis,
CEO, Terre des Hommes
Dr. Daniela Ligiero,
Executive Director and CEO, Together for Girls
Iain Drennan, Executive Director,
WePROTECT Global Alliance
Dr. Joanna Rubinstein,
President and CEO, World Childhood Foundation USA
Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit,
General Secretary, World Council of Churches
Andrew Morley,
President and CEO, World Vision International
PRESS RELEASE
Tokyo, 7 April 2020
Arigatou International launched today a global campaign titled “Faith in Action for Children” calling on religious leaders and religious communities to increase their actions in response to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children. The campaign builds on the important role that faith plays in emergency situations to strengthen resilience, and the crucial contributions of religious leaders to positively influence millions of followers.
The campaign supports the global and local efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 while at the same time focusing on preventing violence against children. We know that children today are among the most vulnerable affected groups. Many children and their families are in lock-down in their homes, and around 90% of the world’s school children are not attending school at present. According to numerous recent reports, violence against women and children is increasing as an indirect effect of the pandemic.
´While the elderly and those with pre-existing health complications are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, as always, women and children often become extra-vulnerable not only from the virus but also from their vulnerable situation in most societies, including from domestic violence, gender-based violence and lack of effective social safety nets´, emphasizes Mr. Kul Gautam, Chair of the Arigatou International Advisory Group and former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF.
During the next weeks, Arigatou International, together with the members of its Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) and other partners, will strengthen its efforts to keep children safe during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Global Campaign promotes a virtual movement to strengthen connections among religious communities and child protection organizations around the globe to work together to influence behavioral change. Among the innovative tools being launched is a Booklet with activities customized for children 4 to 18 years old that parents, caregivers and teachers can use to support children’s socio-emotional and spiritual needs, which are even more relevant and necessary in the current situation.
We call on religious communities and other partners around the world to join this movement to protect and empower children during these challenging times. ‘This is the time when we need to encourage a sense of solidarity as one human community and act together to overcome this threat to humankind with empathy and care for the most vulnerable people, including children’, says Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, Spiritual Leader of Myochikai in Japan and President of Arigatou International.
Arigatou International’s practical resources for local religious communities, parents, caregivers, teachers, and children themselves, are provided in the following links. Other tools include webinars, blogs, and video messages with relevant spiritual reflections. New resources will be shared during the course of the Faith in Action for Children Global Campaign.
Arigatou International is a global NGO that draws on universal principles of common good to offer compelling new ways for people of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to work together on children's issues.
Faith in Action for Children Global Campaign Website: https://arigatouinternational.org/en/response-to-covid19
Click here to download the Activity Booklet for Families to use with children aged 4 to 18.
Click here to download the posters to support and protect children’s physical and spiritual wellbeing.
For further information, contact
Ms. Eleonora Mura
Program Officer External Relations
Arigatou International Geneva
E-mail: e.mura@arigatouinternational.org
Phone: +41 22 734 94 10
Aquest post obre una sèrie de reflexions i propostes entorn al dret a la salut, en el context del procés Salut, Drets, Acció. Des d’enguany, el projecte es reconverteix en un procés d’acompanyament als moviments socials vinculats al dret a la salut, per a enfortir-los i impulsar accions de sensibilització i d’incidència.
La salut sempre ha estat el pilar de la vida. Però tot i així no ha estat mai el protagonista del sistema. Serà perquè el sistema no ha considerat mai la vida una prioritat.
En canvi, un huracà ha posat de sobte, inesperadament, la salut al centre del sistema. I tots els mecanismes del sistema han començat a donar voltes entorn de la salut: quedant més despullats que mai davant la mirada atònita de totes. Mostrant la seva violència, les seves imperfeccions i la seva insuficiència. I també de sobte han mostrat en primer pla la tasca imprescindible, sacrificada, generosa, de les professionals, de les persones, que construeixen la salut en el dia a dia. Les que ens salven sempre, les que ens cuiden sempre.
Avui, el capitalisme intenta salvar-se aferrant-se a la salut. Tots els seus instruments hi graviten. Les representants del poder que van tractar de destruir la sanitat pública en nom del negoci i el benefici empresarial, avui preguen als seus professionals que els sostinguin de peu. Les forces armades destinades a garantir el manteniment de l’status quo, desigual i violent amb qui menys té, pugen a l’escenari perquè quedi clar que no hi ha alternativa: que es farà el que sigui perquè la salut faci el paper que elles necessiten que es faci: salvar-los. I tots els poders econòmics que durant tant de temps han fet el possible per no alimentar el sistema públic –evadint impostos, generant xarxa per obtenir beneficis fiscals i legals-, avui tracten de mostrar-se disponibles (no diríem sacrificar-se) perquè, si no, sembla que la xarxa extractiva se’ls enfonsa.
I amb tota aquesta escenificació, brutal i patosa, ha quedat clar que el capitalisme no en té ni idea, de la vida. Ha mostrat en primer pla una comunitat perfectament organitzada i capacitada per a sostenir les necessitats de la salut, amb valors i entrega profunds, que en canvi el sistema té en permanent estat de sobresaturació i estrés, a punt de descarrilar. I quan hi ha posat tot l’interès, hem vist com encara es sobrecalenta més la resistència de la comunitat i amenaça amb cremar-los fins l’última gota.
I d’altra banda, amb la voluntat de protegir la salut, ha comès la torpesa de només posar l’ull sobre el sistema hospitalari i els seus professionals, a més de sobre el sistema econòmic.
Ha oblidat que qui cuida en el dia a dia les ciutadanes és l’atenció primària, que coneix els seus pacients, els recomforta i aconsella perquè se sentin acompanyades en allò que senten dels seus cossos. Ha oblidat que existeix la salut mental i que això no casa bé amb tancar-se a casa de forma permanent. Ha oblidat que la salut és relacionar-se amb altres persones, fer exercici, poder somriure. I ha oblidat que qui construeixen la salut i el benestar en primera instància són els veïns, les ciutadanes, en el seu dia a dia: mares i pares amb les seves filles i fills, les cuidadores amb les persones a qui cuiden, els avis i les àvies amb els seus néts; amigues, amics, companyes dels espais comunitaris.
Per salvar la salut, ha escapçat de nou les condicions que faciliten la salut.
Sí, hi ha una emergència i totes ho hem entès. Entenem que al capdavant del sistema també hi ha algunes persones amb bona voluntat, que malden per trobar solucions, que ho fan tan bé com saben i poden. Totes ens prestem amb totes les nostres forces i bones voluntats. Però el sistema és cec i no reconeix els valors i necessitats elementals. Perquè, de nou, no formen part del seu interès. Però sí que formen part del nostre.
I avui ha quedat més clar que mai que el sistema depèn de nosaltres.
El sistema ha deixat, per cert, patrullant pels carrers deserts les seves forces de coerció, i sense multituds que en tapin les seves accions, està quedant despullat com abusen de la seva capacitat de repressió, en funció dels seus desitjos o ideologies. A totes ens van ensenyar, a l’escola i els nostres pares, que quan no t’agrada algú no l’apallisses. Però els garants del sistema apallissen a qui els provoca.
En fi, el sistema tracta de salvar-se a través nostre i això el fa quedar en evidència en totes les seves costures.
I en canvi, a nosaltres, ens queden, lluïnt davant dels ulls, les persones sacrificades i sàbies que tracten d’ajudar-nos a sobreviure, que ens cuiden, que ens salven quan donen a l’abast. Ens queda el reconeixement als petits, ens queda l’amor per totes les mares i pares que fan el millor perquè aquest periode excepcional sigui una experiència bonica i de creixement amb els seus fills i filles. Ens queden totes les persones que, estant sanes i podent-ho fer, aixequen la mà i posen tot el seu enginy per poder continuar cuidant desconegudes i desconeguts: visitant, portant menjar, fabricant mascaretes, fent classes per internet, inventant cures de tota mena.
Quan sortim d’aquí ens abraçarem. Ens abraçarem bé dient-nos que ens estimem perquè aquesta és la base de la salut.
I si el sistema no ens estima o no ens permet estimar-nos, haurem de canviar de sistema.
Fotoperiodisme i coronavirus
L'entrada La salut i el sistema ha aparegut primer a Quepo | Comunicació per a la transformació social.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has now spread across the globe and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic. The world has been affected in unprecedented ways. We are all saddened by the report that an increasing number of people, mostly the elderly but also including children, are losing their lives to this virus. We are praying for the suffering and the departed, and for an early end of the pandemic worldwide.
Although the mortality rate among children has been low so far, they are seriously affected by the impact of the pandemic. In many countries, schools are closed down and children are losing not only access to education but also their precious time to interact with their friends and teachers and in some cases food provided at school as well. Their lives may also be even more severely affected if their family members or caregivers become ill or lose their lives. We must keep in mind that children are very vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic, and we need to listen to their voices and stand by them. Arigatou International will continue to work with our partners and supporters to offer necessary support to children around the world in this difficult time.
This historic pandemic reminds us that in today’s world people are deeply interconnected globally. We are learning the valuable lesson that how even one person behaves affects others and that our collective actions have the power to change the situation around the world in any direction. This is the time when we need to encourage a sense of solidarity as one human community and act together to overcome this threat to humankind with empathy and care for the vulnerable people including children. Arigatou International will do everything in its power to contribute to the international efforts to end the pandemic.
Keishi Miyamoto (Rev.),
President of Arigatou International,
Convenor, Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC)
During the upcoming weeks, Arigatou International and its initiatives will be working together to support you and all the global community in keeping children safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We will share practical resources for parents and caregivers, as well as relevant reflections and tools for faith communities, including webinars, blogs and video messages.
We invite you to stay tuned to our social media to reflect with us on the ethical challenges presented by this unprecedented emergency and take concrete actions for the wellbeing of children around the world.
Disruption of the COVID 19 pandemic will only be possible if Science, Society and a spirit of Solidarity moves us to reflect and act. As global citizens and members of our faith communities locally, we have a responsibility to our people. We must actively promote and advocate for solidarity.
Dr. Kezevino Aram, President, Shanti Ashram
The possibility of a pandemic, a public health crisis of this scale, has in the past only been described as a theoretical event. Daily updates from the World Health Organization (“WHO”) on the escalating COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the unprecedented speed and scale with which the virus is spreading, disregarding national boundaries, class or ethnicity. The virus has taken the global community by surprise and challenged its assumptions on epidemic preparedness. Heads of nations now have national emergencies to address, even as the medical fraternity continues its matrix reading of people at risk (particularly the elderly), treating infected patients needing intensive care, and designing protocols to deal with individuals who unfortunately have lost their lives.
While the immediate prevention and care response continues to evolve with increasing international evidence, country specific WHO advisories, and on the ground efforts by the health care community, one must step back and see what the crisis means in the short and medium term for communities. I have read many educational articles about the immediate health and broader socio-economic implications and urge each of you to read more from credible sources.
These are also the times of social media and I see people’s response to the epidemic: very visible, frequent and at times reactive rather than considered (and verified). Preoccupation with the unfolding epidemic is a positive sign; peoples’ engagement has increased, accompanied by short-term positive behavior modification and realistic understanding of life circumstances that fuelled the pandemic. I hope this positive interest in health will lead to better investments in people’s health going forward.
Let’s focus, amidst many things, on the impact the pandemic has on society - particularly children – and the opportunity we have to invest in advancing public health. The sudden closure of schools has directly affected lives of millions of children across the world. Families are adjusting to the change and spending more hours together: many updates are seen on this unexpected “time together” dividend of the pandemic. It might be weeks before they return to school, play together and enjoy the company of their friends. Virtual classrooms can never fully replace the dynamic classroom of life that children grow and thrive in.
“Hundreds of millions of children are not in school. Parents and caregivers are working remotely whenever they can. Borders have been closed. Lives have been upended. These are uncharted waters for all of us”.
Ms. Henrietta Fore,
Executive Director,
Unicef
My mind also has been dominated by the precipitous effect the pandemic will have on vulnerable children, children whose lives are dictated by the daily wages of their parents. Alongside the economic stimulus packages for business & industry, can we also focus on spreading the social safety net for the most vulnerable amongst us? Never before have the elderly felt so vulnerable (even in the more developed parts of the world). A former UN Diplomat wrote to me that not since World War II has Europe experienced such a crisis impacting everyone’s lives.
Social distancing/isolation which was used to describe societal circumstances has suddenly been lifted up and accepted by individuals as a ‘public health tool’ for disease control. While we put this to effective use, let us also actively build on the spirit of solidarity and think of how and where we can build the safety nets for vulnerable children and elders.
Disruption of the COVID 19 pandemic will only be possible if Science, Society and a spirit of Solidarity moves us to reflect and act. As global citizens and members of our faith communities locally, we have a responsibility to our people. We must actively promote and advocate for solidarity.
Anticipating the need of collaboration and a spirit of solidarity, India’s Prime Minister asked for people’s time, attention and cooperation in the coming weeks to reverse the course of the pandemic. Social safety nets have to become a priority for all of us. Governments and people have to do it to together!
Let’s re-imagine ‘care’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faith helps to meet the challenges we are currently experiencing; and we must share this with our children, youth and the community. Standing together during these difficult times is a choice we make!
As my faith tradition teaches me, "If we learn to live together, there are a million blessings to share!"
