‘Home sweet home’ no longer tenable as new report shows spaces are becoming physically and emotionally suffocating for most African girls.

Quarantines, stay-home measures and movement restrictions related to COVID-19 have brought potential victims and potential perpetrators together under the confines of the home setting, increasing girls’ close and constant exposure to abuse and violence.

Plan International and African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) are calling for urgent interventions to address spiralling rates of violence against girls and women in Africa as COVID-19 intensifies and lockdowns continue. 

The agencies have joined forces to launch the report – Under Siege: Impact of COVID-19 on Girls in Africa - that assesses the special vulnerabilities and risk factors faced by children, especially girls, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis in Africa and makes recommendations on how to effectively influence preparedness for, response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as countries ease restrictions on lockdown. 

The report captures the voices and experiences from the lived realities of girls and the perspectives of government officials, parliamentarians, NGO executives and child protection officers in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Uganda. Under Siege: Impact of COVID-19 on Girls in Africa is released to mark the World Humanitarian Day, 19^th August 2020.

Download a copy of Under Siege: Impact of COVID-19 on Girls in Africa

Please visit the launch website at http://girls.africanchildforum.org  for more information. 

Read French version here.