Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a devastating rise in violence against women and children in Asia, according to a new report.
Key points:
- Economic pressure can lead to a rise in child marriage
- The Philippines reported an increase in online child sex abuse
- Experts say violence against women can be hard to measure
The ‘Because We Matter’ report, released today by Plan International Australia and Save the Children, shows a disturbing increase in online abuse, highlighting that children were more exposed to cyberbullying, harmful content and sexual exploitation during lockdowns.
Aid groups fear the economic impact of the new coronavirus could also lead to an increase in child exploitation and child marriage, unravelling years of progress.
The number of online sex abuse perpetrated against children in the Philippines more than tripled during the pandemic, according to the Department of Justice.
Between the start of March and the end of May, some 279,166 online child sex abuse cases were recorded, compared to 76,561 in the same time period the year before.
In Thailand, recorded cases of domestic violence almost doubled between February and April, according to government figures.
“During this pandemic, I have received many complaints fro