The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and UNICEF produced a Technical Note on protecting children, specifically at times of outbreaks of infectious diseases. Experience from previous outbreaks indicates that new child protection risks are likely to emerge from the direct effects of COVID-19 as well as from measures to prevent and control its spread. Moreover, existing child protection risks are likely to be exacerbated. Some children are at increased risk in these circumstances, especially those without parental/family care, those at risk of separation from family, those in alternative care, and those who have recently left alternative care.
The aim of this Technical Note is to support child protection practitioners and government officials in their immediate response to the child protection concerns faced by children who are at risk of separation or in alternative care during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been developed by an Inter-agency Task Force of practitioners specialized in child protection and care and builds on The Technical Note: Protection of Children during the Coronavirus Pandemic developed by The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and is based on international standards and practice relating to the care and protection of children. View the accompanying key approaches annex document here with further information accessible below. This Technical Note will be updated in light of the fast changing situation. It will be part of a series of tools developed to address more specific aspects of children's care in the context of the pandemic as needs for further guidance or resources are identified.
Annex to the same Technical Note: Protection Of Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic called the Technical Note on the Protection of Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Children and Alternative Care Available here:
Further to this, The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and UNICEF also developed a Technical Note on children deprived of their liberty, who often have compromised psychosocial, physical and mental health issues, live in crowded or unhygienic conditions and are more vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Both The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and UNICEF call on States in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that the human rights of every child who is deprived of her or his liberty are fully respected, protected and fulfilled. This includes providing adequate care and protection from harm, including by taking concrete steps to reduce overcrowding in all facilities in which they are detained and ensuring safe placement in non-custodial, family or community-based settings. It also means that all decisions and actions concerning children must be guided by the principle of the best interests of the child, and children’s rights to life, survival, and development, and to be heard. For more information, please click on the link below;
Annex to the Technical Note: Protection Of Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic called the Technical Note on COVID-19 and Children Deprived of their Liberty Available here.
Furthermore, The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action produced this technical note on the protection of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this brief is to support child protection practitioners to better respond to the child protection risks during a COVID-19 pandemic. Part 1 of the note presents the potential child protection risks COVID-19 can pose to children. Part 2 of the note presents programmatic options in line with the 2019 Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) and the Guidance Note: Protection of Children During Infectious Disease Outbreaks. A summary of this technical note can be found here.