This analysis from CARE highlights the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on women and girls, including the increased risk of violence and/or separation from caregivers for children, particularly girls. "Informed by lessons learned from past public health emergencies, CARE’s analysis shows that COVID-19 outbreaks in development or humanitarian contexts could disproportionately affect women and girls in a number of ways, including adverse effects on their education, food security and nutrition, health, livelihoods, and protection," says the report. "Even after the outbreak has been contained, women and girls may continue to suffer from ill-effects for years to come."
The report continues: "all children are at risk of becoming separated from their caregiver during public health crises, as their caregiver may die, be quarantined, or become unavailable for other reasons. These risks may be magnified in areas with a high prevalence of HIV—where orphaned children might be cared for by grandparents or older relatives—as older persons appear to be most susceptible to severe complications from COVID-19. Separations expose children to greater risk of exploitation and abuse, as well as psychosocial trauma."
