CWC: Quarantine exposes children to violence

QUEZON CITY, July 1 (PIA) — Restricted people’s movement, especially in overcrowded homes, exposes more children to different forms of violence right within the family, a statement from the Council on the Welfare of Children (CWC) said.

“The duration of quarantine and further imposition of lockdowns increases the vulnerability of children to violence where they are trapped inside the homes they share together with their perpetrators and may not be able to seek immediate protection or help because of their limited access to people whom they trust or seek help from,” CWC said.

Due to the increased number of people experiencing absence or loss of income to buy basic essentials for the family and induced higher level of stress and anxiety brought by COVID 19,

“Children may encounter forms of violence right within the family, especially in already violent or dysfunctional families…[including high] risk of neglect, exploitative labor, social exclusion, physical, sexual, psychological, and cyber violence among children,” said CWC.

The United Nation’s Policy Brief on COVID-19 and Children notes three main ways crisis affected children – the virus infection, immediate socio-economic impacts of measures to control virus spread, and potential longer-term effects of delayed implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Aware of parents and caregivers’ balancing act between income generation and childcare, the CWC intends to focus on promoting protection of all children and their rights, providing practical support to parents and caregivers on how to care for children and themselves during the pandemic, empowering children to protect themselves, and reporting experience of abuse and guide LGUs to efficiently deliver their expected roles and functions.

In commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the National Children’s Month (NCM) on November 2020, the CWC intends to hold virtual activities in promotion of children’s rights and enjoins government agencies and stakeholders to participate.

With the theme that centers on upholding children’s rights amid pandemic, the CWC invites agencies to recite Panatang Makabata during flag ceremonies. The public is encouraged to watch MAKABATANG BUHAY!, a children’s online talk show on  Coping with Blended and Distance Education for Young Learners, and participate in the webinars on parenting and expositions on predatory online platforms that abuse and exploit children.

For more information and for inclusion in the NCM Calendar of Activities, interested parties may email paio@cwc.gov.ph. (CPC/PIA-IDPD)