Hello Friends, dear friends, Ma’am, sir and dear family,
The COVID-19 crisis can have a long-term and long-term negative impact on children around the world. This impact would most likely be devastating even if children infected with the coronavirus seemed to develop fewer severe symptoms and had lower mortality rates than other age groups.
In the world, more than 1.5 billion students are no longer in school. In Indonesia, as the 4th largest population country in the world, schools are closed for months. and 4.4 million children and adolescents ages 7–18 are still dropping out.
Widespread job losses and incomes, as well as economic insecurity for families, are expected to increase incidents of child labour, sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and child marriage. The obstacles faced by families, especially those living in quarantine or confined areas, increase the incidence of KDRT. As the number of deaths from COVID-19 increases, more children will become orphaned and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. This is clearly true in poor areas where people no longer have income.
“THE RISK TO CHILDREN FROM THE COVID-19 CRISIS IS HUGE.” THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACT IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT CHILDREN DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO CONSIDER HOW THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE TODAY WILL RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AFTER THE FINAL CRISIS.
For many children, the COVID-19 crisis means stopping or restricting their education, or falling behind others. More than 91% of students here do not attend school because all schools are closed. The crisis has revealed huge differences in the country’s preparedness for emergencies, children’s access to the Internet, and the availability of educational materials. While there is a lot of talk about online learning platforms today, many public institutions are not organized to use them and do not have the technology and tools to deliver their teaching over the Internet.
A quick reminder: Nearly 50% of people in Indonesia do not yet have Internet access!
The additional pressures faced by families as a result of the COVID-19 crisis – including job loss, isolation, excessive confinement as well as medical and financial problems – increase the risk of violence at home, posed between spouses or in children by the adults who care for them. The UN Secretary-General has spoken of a “frightening” global increase in domestic violence linked to COVID-19. Calls to emergency numbers have reportedly doubled in some countries. Child abuse tends to go undetected during the COVID-19 crisis because child protection agencies have reduced their supervision to avoid the spread of the virus and teachers will no longer be able to detect it. signs of persecution, the establishment has been closed.
THE FOUNDATION ENCOURAGES THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, INCLUDING BY:
Prioritizing efforts to continue education for all children using available technologies;
Provide economic assistance, including cash payments, to low-income families who will be hit first and foremost, to help them meet basic needs without having to become child laborers or get married;
Minimizing disruption in children’s access to essential and vital medical care;
Prioritizing efforts to identify orphans due to pandemics and expand the network of extended families and adoptive families;
Expanding public education, awareness campaigns, emergency numbers, and other services for children at risk of domestic violence or sexual exploitation;
Moving deprived children to a family environment ensures adequate accommodation and sanitation for internally displaced people, migrants and children.
The response to the COVID-19 human rights crisis will not only reduce the damage that has the potential to have a broad impact, but will also benefit children in the long run, Human Rights Watch said. In general, improving children’s access to the Internet will improve their access to information and their ability to organize and express themselves. The economic crisis related to COVID-19 can encourage the government to strengthen economic and social rights guarantees and social protections for the poor and vulnerable families. Such measures, in the long run, can improve food security and reduce poverty rates, child labor and child marriage.
After all, this is an observation we made after more than four months of hard work with all innocent people being victims of this pandemic. In addition, we think the impact on children over the past few months has been nothing for them, whether in terms of access to knowledge, access to school, and games with other teenagers their age will have a negative impact for years to come. .
In this case, and in an effort to limit the damage, therefore, it is necessary to take action aimed at bridging this chasm.
