Coronavirus and children’s rights


As the world faces up to the challenges of dealing with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, CRIN is producing a series of features exploring how the pandemic and the measures to prevent its spread impact the human rights of under-18s. Below is a developing list of the issues we’re looking at.

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Eliminating age discrimination from lockdown curfews

To contain the spread of Covid-19, most countries have introduced curfews for all citizens, but a number of them have only introduced them for certain age groups, including under-18s. Here we review the ethics of age-based curfews and their effectiveness in the fight against the pandemic.

The impact of coronavirus on Mapuche children in La Araucanía, Chile

Most of Chile’s Mapuche people live in La Auracania, the country’s poorest region which also presents the second highest number of Covid-19 infections. We spoke with local Mapuche activist and educational psychologist Onésima Lienqueo to find out how the pandemic is impacting Mapuche children.

Women and girls’ reproductive rights under lockdown

Some countries have categorised abortion as a non-essential health service during this pandemic, while others have removed certain restrictions to accessing abortion. What is the current state of women and girls’ reproductive rights?

Social distancing for working children?

Millions of workers in the informal economy cannot comply with lockdown rules. This includes child and adolescent workers. Here we take a look at Buenos Aires’ low-income neighbourhoods.

How coronavirus makes us rethink youth protests

Country lockdowns and social distancing make us believe protest gatherings are off-limits, but youth climate protesters have shown that activism doesn’t just happen on the street.

Elective surgeries under coronavirus and children’s bodily integrity

With federal recommendations that elective surgeries be suspended, what does that mean for the most common elective surgery in the US - routine male circumcision?

How has the Covid-19 pandemic changed youth climate activism?

How have youth climate activists adapted their work and what lessons from the pandemic can be applied to the fight for climate justice?

Global: Children in detention

What are the specific challenges for under-18s in prisons and detention facilities within the criminal justice system, and how governments respond?