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Mapping what we know about ending violence against children
Press Release

Mapping what we know about ending violence against children

(21 October 2020) While evidence on interventions to reduce violence against children (VAC) has increased in recent years, striking gaps remain that need to be addressed, according to a new report published today by UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti and the Campbell Collaboration.
Webinar: COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis
Event

Webinar: COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis

Has COVID changed Climate Change? Can children who’ve left the least damage on the planet now make the biggest difference? Join us on Leading Minds Online as we ask the experts. On Thursday 22 October at 15:00 CET | 09:00 EST, UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti presents its eighth Leading Minds Online webinar ‘What the Experts Say - Coronavirus and Children' on COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis.
5 Questions on Research on Violence against Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Article

5 Questions on Research on Violence against Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

A new publication produced jointly by UNICEF Innocenti and UNICEF Data and Analytics provides guidance on ethical data collection and research on violence against children in the context of COVID-19 and beyond. We sat down (virtually) with one of UNICEF Innocenti’s researchers involved in producing this research guidance, Alessandra Guedes, Gender and Development Research Manager, to discuss what this publication is about, why it has been produced and what the key messages from the publication are.
Report Card 16: Your questions answered
Article

Report Card 16: Your questions answered

(10 September 2020) Following the launch of our latest Report Card, Worlds of Influence, our Chief of Economic and Social Policy, Dominic Richardson, answers some of the questions asked during our policy panel discussion.
World's richest countries grappling with children’s reading and math skills, mental well-being and obesity
Press Release

World's richest countries grappling with children’s reading and math skills, mental well-being and obesity

FLORENCE/NEW YORK, 3 September 2020 – Suicide, unhappiness, obesity and poor social and academic skills have become far-too-common features of childhood in high-income countries, according to the latest Report Card issued today by the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. UNICEF’s Report Card Series – now running for 20 years – uses comparable national data to rank EU and OECD countries on childhood. Worlds of Influence: Understanding what shapes child well-being in rich countries uses pre-COVID-19 data and features a league table according to children’s mental and physical health and academic and social skill-set. Based on these indicators the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway rank as the top three places to be a child among wealthy countries.
5 Questions on the Impact of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection
Article

5 Questions on the Impact of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection

(23 July 2020) A new rapid review from UNICEF Innocenti collects and synthesizes the available evidence on the impacts of COVID-19 and previous pandemics, epidemics, and their control measures on child protection and offers key lessons learned for global and national responses to COVID-19 and recommendations for future research priorities.
40 million children miss out on early education in critical pre-school year due to COVID-19
Press Release

40 million children miss out on early education in critical pre-school year due to COVID-19

PRESS RELEASE New York, 22 July 2020 – At least 40 million children worldwide have missed out on early childhood education in their critical pre-school year as COVID-19 shuttered childcare and early education facilities, according to a new research brief published today by UNICEF. Produced by UNICEF’s Office of Research – Innocenti, the research brief looks at the state of childcare and early childhood education globally and includes an analysis of the impact of widespread COVID-19 closures of these vital family services.
UN agencies issue joint statement on prevention of violence against women and girls in the context of COVID-19
Article

UN agencies issue joint statement on prevention of violence against women and girls in the context of COVID-19

(Florence, 24 June 2020) Nine UN agencies today jointly released a statement providing critical guidance on addressing worrisome rising levels of violence against women and girls during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement follows the UN Secretary General’s widely supported appeal [link] for nations to prioritize prevention and redress of violence against women and girls as a central part of their national pandemic response plans.
Evidence review of past health and economic crises provides lessons for a sustainable pandemic response
Working Paper

Evidence review of past health and economic crises provides lessons for a sustainable pandemic response

The study reviews economic policy and social protection responses to the major past health and economic crises in order to provide guidance to inform the initial and long-term public policy responses to COVID-19.
Remote data collection on violence against children during COVID-19: A conversation with experts on research priorities, measurement and ethics (Part 2)
Think Piece

Remote data collection on violence against children during COVID-19: A conversation with experts on research priorities, measurement and ethics (Part 2)

Global stakeholders have raised concerns about the implications of COVID-19 for violence against children (VAC). An increased risk of violence could result from a variety of compounding structural, interpersonal and individual-level risk factors, including the increased economic strain placed on families, stay-at-home orders, school closures and other COVID-19 response measures. Over 165 governments have urged the UN to “Protect our Children” and the leaders of 22 organizations have called for the need to integrate measures to protect children from violence in COVID-19 response plans. To guide action on preventing and responding to violence, eight UN agencies outlined a child rights and multi-sectoral framework agenda for action. Initial and preliminary evidence on COVID-19 and VAC suggests that the pandemic could affect not only the risks of violence, but also help-seeking behavior and access to violence-related services.
UNICEF’s New Online Series Convenes Leading Minds to Discuss Children & COVID-19
Article

UNICEF’s New Online Series Convenes Leading Minds to Discuss Children & COVID-19

COVID-19 has unleashed a wave of international concern over increasing violence inside the home. Across the globe, countries are expanding helplines and online support platforms as media reporting on family violence worldwide rises. The UN secretary general has called for an urgent domestic violence ‘ceasefire.’ UNICEF Innocenti’s Leading Minds Conference has been recast this year as a bi-weekly series of high-level panel discussions featuring top global experts on the theme: Coronavirus and Children: What the experts say. The next and second panel in the series will focus on violence in the home on 21 MAY 2020, 9:00 EST. [REGISTER HERE]
Families Key for Fairer Future
Article

Families Key for Fairer Future

COVID-19 has disrupted the first year of the final decade of action to achieve the SDGs. More than ever, families are key to reaching these goals and strengthening our crisis response.