Child Rights during the Covid-19 pandemic
This week, the journal ‘Children' published a paper that collaborators within the International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP) and I have worked on since 2021. In the paper, we argue children’s rights were generally not safeguarded in the initial COVID-19 pandemic response and negatively impacted children’s health and well-being. Further, children lacked meaningful opportunities to raise their concerns to policymakers. In our research, we applied the 5P <>framework (Provision, Protection, Participation, Preparation and Power) guided by articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). We conclude the 5Ps can shape an ethical child rights-based decision-making framework for future national and global crises. In a time of wars and atrocities, we need to remind ourselves and others about the need for enhanced visibility of children’s human rights and sometimes even implore them to be adequately safeguarded and actioned.
Here is a link to the open-access article: https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101670 <https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101670>
Regards,
Geir Gunnlaugsson MD, PhD, MPH
Profile:
Geir Gunnlaugsson is Professor of Global Health at the University of Iceland. He graduated with a medical diploma (MD) from this university with post-graduate training in paediatrics (PhD) and public health (MPH) at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Research and publications on, e.g., breastfeeding, infant and child mortality, child development and abuse, measles, cholera, and health systems in Iceland, Guinea-Bissau and Malawi. He was the General Secretary of ISSOP International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health in 2009-2017, and currently chairman of Africa 20:20 an Icelandic NGO to promote interest and knowledge on sub-Saharan Africa.Email:geirATgeirsson.com
