Covid-19 induced upward spiral in child abuse

Article by: Mariama Dem

The corona virus pandemic has heightened the vulnerability of children as abuse and exploitation surged. The National Coordinator of the Child Protection Alliance in the Gambia, Lamin Fatty, has asserted that Covid-19 outbreak in the Gambia worsened abuse against children.

Mr. Lamin Fatty said the pandemic has caused a surge in incidents of child abuse such as rape and that the laws to safeguard children against all forms of abuse must be enforced.

Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in March last year, concerns have since been mounting about reports of child abuse such as rape and exploitation during the partial lockdowns.

The Coordinator of CPA, Lamin Fatty, lamented that since the Covid-19 outbreak, children in the Gambia are one of the most affected sections of the society despite the virus’s effects on other groups of the society.

He explained that the Coronavirus has led to an upward spiral in the number of rapes against children.

Fatty also explained that the pandemic had disproportionate effects on children as it exposed many of them to various forms of abuses such as domestic violence and various forms of exploitation during the school’s closure.

‘’The country,’’ he said, ‘’has progressive child protection laws but that there is no robust enforcement regime.’’ ‘’This,’’ he went on, ‘’needs to be looked into.’’

To Fatty, the Gambia government is not investing enough in the promotion of children’s welfare. ‘’This,’’ he continued, ‘’is one of the variables contributing to the surge of child abuse in The Gambia.’’