The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) on Wednesday organized, in cooperation with the Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD), a workshop on "Media interaction with the implications of child rights in light of the coronavirus crisis". The workshop – which was held in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU) – benefited 250 media professionals from news agencies, radio stations, TV channels, newspapers and electronic platforms, from 40 OIC Member States as well as from among Muslim minorities in non-member countries. The workshop, conducted in Arabic with translation into English and French, was administered by Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Professor of Sociology at Cairo University, Egypt. He tackled the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and the negative consequences on their health, development and protection, due to the disruption for the routine activities of families, friends and the entire society. According to reliable estimates, the suspension of measles immunization campaigns in at least 23 countries has affected to date more than 78 million children up to the age of nine. As for the psychological effects, the pandemic has caused a state of anxiety, as a result of infection with the virus, or loss of work, which can be transmitted to children. The pandemic has also disrupted the daily routine for children and caused them emotional and psychological distress, due to the death, illness, or separation of a loved one or fear of disease. Dr. Zayed stated that the quarantine and isolation measures have created fear and panic and increased the levels of tension in the community, especially among children. He drew attention to the increase in abuse and domestic violence against children, and increased risk of sexual exploitation of children, including sex for assistance and forced early marriage. He warned that prolonged home confinement may increase the possibility of children's exposure to physical and psychological violence. The lecturer also spoke about the educational effects, particularly losing organized schooling after the right to education for more than 1.6 billion children worldwide has been disrupted as 190 countries around the globe have imposed school closures. He pointed to the gap in the home academic achievement versus school achievement, and the loss of touch with the teacher. The workshop addressed the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on children's rights. The preoccupation with fears may lead to shifting public responsibility for childhood to other concerns, as the exceptional and unprecedented conditions caused by the pandemic have compounded the vulnerability of some groups of children, including children with disabilities, those living in poverty, children living on the streets, refugees, and children with pre-existing health conditions. Zayed stressed the importance of providing school activities that educate children on how to face problems; designing movies and electronic games to teach children about facing danger, and positive physical and psychological self-management; and providing alternative and innovative solutions for children to enjoy their rights to rest, leisure, entertainment, and cultural and artistic activities, which is essential for their health, well-being, development of creativity, imagination, self-confidence. He also emphasized the importance of identifying flexible strategies to communicate with communities remotely, to promote safe coping mechanisms; and working with traditional and religious leaders and media professionals to adapt traditional practices to new post-pandemic future situations. The lecturer called for developing a post-pandemic recovery plan; working in a spirit of cooperation with children and adolescents to help bridge generation gaps and contribute to strengthening solidarity between different age groups; disseminating child-friendly social messages about the risks and vulnerabilities children face during an outbreak; and creating online sessions and support groups to enable people to interact positively. He presented three scenarios for the situation of children in the post-coronavirus crisis, including paying more attention to children and child-related international conventions; more attention to children in special circumstances (wars, refuges, displacement, detention, violence and forced exploitation, migrants, hazardous occupations, etc.); and more attention to the family, as well as to domestic and international conventions on supporting the family in times of danger and exceptional circumstances. --More 18:49 LOCAL TIME 15:49 GMT 0017 www.spa.gov.sa/2110834
