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The COVID-19 Pandemic and Children: Challenges, Responses and Policy Implications.
Council of Europe.
Fact Sheet
International Resource
19 p.
Copyright
Published: March 12, 2021
Council of Europe
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Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 00
Fax: +33 (0)1 47 27 36 47
http://www.coe.int/t/dc/general/specific_information_EN.asp?
Available From:http://www.coe.int/
Download: https://rm.coe.int/covid-19-factsheet-revised-eng/1680a188f2
This report explores the short- and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and children’s rights identified by the Council of Europe, and promising practices to address these impacts. Key cross-cutting issues include: services for children have struggled to continue to operate during the pandemic and face longer term financial questions; the risks of violence against children have increased, while child and youth protection services have faced difficulties in continuing to operate; education has not been enjoyed equally by all during this period, while an increased move to e- learning presents new children’s rights challenges as not all children have equal access to digital technologies; in the family context, identified challenges arise from contact issues, increased parental pressures, and resulting conflicts; children’s participation in social life and recreational activities has been limited; and there are significant challenges to the continued and future co-operation of relevant stakeholders, and in keeping children’s rights high on the agenda in a COVD-19 context. Recommendations are proposed for European action and include the organization of regular exchanges and assessment, including by independent and/or intergovernmental monitoring bodies, on the ways in which the pandemic, and response measures thereto, impact on children and their rights; collection of good practices on measures taken to uphold children’s rights and reduce the negative impact of the pandemic and responses measures upon children; and encouragement and support for the “crisis-proofing” of frameworks, infrastructures and services which are relevant to children and children’s rights, including through increased digitalization. Policy implications are discussed.
Keywords:
COVID-19; DISASTER RESPONSE; CHILDRENS RIGHTS; CHILD ADVOCACY; PROMISING PRACTICES; POLICY FORMATION; ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES; CHILD WELFARE SERVICES; CHILDRENS SERVICES; INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS