Across virtually every key measure of childhood, progress has gone backward in the 12 months since the pandemic was declared, leaving children confronting a devastating and distorted new normal, says Unicef. Photo: 123rf.com
Ten-year-old Nurfaraiin is terrified of losing her parents to the coronavirus. Every day when her father, a delivery service rider, and mother who is a cleaner, leave for work, Nurfaraiin cries. She is afraid they will come home with the virus, be taken away to the hospital and die.
“Nowadays, she cries a lot, ” says her mother, Nora, 39. “She follows me around the house and when I have to leave for work, that’s when she starts crying. She says she’s afraid I won’t come back.”
Sexual abuse against children with disabilities often goes unreported Pix for representational purpose only. AFP
PETALING JAYA: Children with disabilities face a higher risk of falling victim to sexual abuse, and it is the duty of parents and caregivers to keep them safe, said child experts.
Power of Play (POP), an organisation that helps children express their inner worlds and allows them to have the courage to be themselves, said children with disabilities are four times more likely to experience sexual abuse and violence than non-disabled children.
POP co-creator Madeleine Yong said abuse against disabled children often goes unreported for several reasons, such as the need for help with personal care, an inability to report abuse due to communication difficulties, caregiver dependency and trust, lack of education regarding health sexuality and sexual abuse, as well as societal myths.