The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is calling on governments in the South Asia region to direct more resources towards social protection schemes including emergency universal child benefit package. The call comes amid the threats the global pandemic is presenting to the hard-earned progress achieved so far in advancing children’s rights in the region.
The situation may not be as bad as it is elsewhere in the region but some children in Bhutan are affected by the pandemic. According to a news release from the UNICEF country office, more than 179,000 children in Bhutan are affected by COVID-19 forced school closures.
To keep children engaged the government has rolled out a nationwide e-learning initiative and self instructional materials for those who do not have access to e-learning platforms.
A report released today by the UNICEF for South Asia mentions that while remote learning allows greater interaction between teacher and students, many households in rural areas do not have electricity or internet access. The report also highlights that children do not get the parental support that home learning depends on.
Besides, there are a number of other issues that children are exposed to because of the pandemic such as food security and protection resulting from confined living environment. The Sherig Counselling online platform set up to provide counselling and psychosocial support in response to COVID-19 pandemic has recorded 259 children seeking psychological support to date. Thus, the report is calling for governments to take urgent actions.
“I think now is the opportunity to go a bit further and consider for the country’s long term benefits and start schemes such as universal child grants which have been launched in many countries. Our analysis of five countries in South Asia shows that it doesn’t cost that much to have a universal child grant. It means any family that has children is supported by the government through something like the Kidu Relief. I congratulate Bhutan on the Kidu Relief and I just urge that perhaps we can have a wider discussion on launching an emergency universal child grant to buffer the poorest throughout the country,” said Dr Will Parks, the UNICEF Bhutan Representative.
The report also calls on the governments to continue life-saving vaccinations, protect children against violence by keeping phone helplines open, and ensure access to handwashing facilities with soap and water in homes, schools and health facilities.
Phub Gyem
