Tutu applauds call to support children during lockdown

The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, together with 87 other Nobel Peace Laureates and world leaders, issued a statement on Tuesday calling on governments around the world to prioritise children “or risk losing an entire generation”.

The group of global leaders says the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities.

“The virus, restrictions placed on the majority of the world’s population, and the aftermath will have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable. The pandemic’s public health emergency is set to exacerbate the exploitation of children,” the group said in a statement.

“Trapped in homes to escape the virus, children are at greater risk of sexual abuse and domestic violence. As restrictions are lifted, children will be trafficked, forced out of school and into labour, bearing the burden of sustaining their families.”

They added that the economic impact is likely to trap more boy and girls in child labour.

“If, for once, our world gave the most marginalised children and their families their fair share – 20% of the Covid-19 response for the poorest 20% of humanity – the results would be transformative.

“One trillion dollars would fund all outstanding UN and charity Covid-19 appeals, cancel two years of all debt repayments from low-income countries, and fund two years of the global gap to meet the SDGs on health, water and sanitation, and education. More than ten million lives would be saved.”

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