As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, UNICEF has large concerns about the safety, physical and mental wellbeing of children affected by the school closures and other lockdown measures. Although it seems that children are less at risk of contracting the virus, the direct and indirect consequences of this worldwide pandemic have a huge impact on their present and future safety and well-being.
As child protection professionals, we know you share our concerns. On this page, UNICEF Netherlands will share and keep updating important information and resources as well as useful tools and advice to help you keep children safe.
The information and many of the links below are taken from the global CP AoR Child Protection Resource Menu for COVID-19.
Important: While many documents below are from known organizations on verified websites, please note that not all resources below have been vetted by qualified health experts. Thus, it is important to confirm the use or adaptation of awareness and other materials with health, WASH, protection, and other sector colleagues in your country. This not only to ensure accuracy, but also appropriateness and relevance for your context.
Rapid Risk Assessments Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
These reports serve to assist the public entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and partners, including the Dutch Government. They idenitfy the necessary actions needed, as well as preventive and preparatory actions for any future crises.
Rapid Risk Assessment Bonaire (ENG)
Rapid Risk Assessment Bonaire (NL)
a. The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action produced this Technical Note on Protecting Children during the COVID-19 pandemic, which outlines key risks and corresponding essential actions to mitigate such risks. Here's a summary of this Technical Note.
The aim of this brief is to support child protection practitioners to better respond to the child protection risks during a COVID-19 pandemic. Part 1 presents the potential child protection risks COVID-19 can pose to children. Part 2 presents programmatic options in line with the 2019 Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) and the Guidance Note: Protection of Children During Infectious Disease Outbreaks.
b. Annexes to this Technical Note are included in the corresponding sections below.
c. Other Resources:
In Dutch:
a. Reopening schools:
In Dutch:
b. Prevention and management in schools and school closures:
In Dutch:
c. Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April, 2020) – Technical Note by Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
d. Online Teaching materials: Know Your Rights is a pack of teaching materials to introduce key children’s rights principles to students of 11-12 yrs, developed by UNICEF Netherlands.
e. Webinars
f. Other key websites on EiE: Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Coronavirus Info Platform
a. Community-Level Engagement Guides:
b. Community-Level Child Protection during the COVID-19 Pandemic, including protection risk mitigation messaging:
c. Communicating with Children about COVID-19 (tips for caregivers):
d. Communicating with Children about COVID-19 (stories and information for children):
e. Communicating with Youth and Adolescents about COVID-19 (information for youth and adolescents):
a. General MHPSS resources:
b. Guides for self-care in times of stress:
c. Helping children and adolescents cope with stress:
d. Resources in Dutch:
Psychological First Aid (PFA)
PFA is a method of helping people in distress so they feel calm and supported to cope better with their challenges.
A well-supported, appropriately equipped, empowered, and protected social service workforce is essential to mitigating the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Technical Note: COVID-19 and Children Deprived of their Liberty, with related recorded webinar, and powerpoints. (Alliance for CPHA)
Refugee and migrant children are at heightened risk for the immediate and secondary impacts of COVID-19. They may be prevented from accessing essential services due to legal, documentation or linguistic barriers.
Other UN / Inter-Agency references:
a. World Health Organization:
b. Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children: Protecting Children During the COVID-19 Outbreak with resources for children, adults, and responders. Also, includes a social media kit that will be updated often.
c. Save the Children: Coronavirus Information, including tips for children and Q&A
d. Gender Based Violence/GBV AoR: COVID-19 Knowledge Hub & Recordings of COVID-19 and GBV Webinar Series
e. Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) during COVID-19 response (IASC)
f. Global Protection Cluster: Community of Practice and COVID-19 resources