COVID-19 pandemic leads to rise in violence against women and girls in Asia Pacific, new report shows

Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a devastating rise in violence against women and children in Asia, according to a new report. Key points: Economic pressure can lead to a rise in child marriage The Philippines reported an increase in online child sex abuse Experts say violence against women can be hard to measure The 'Because We Matter' report, released today by Plan International Australia and Save the Children, shows a disturbing increase in online abuse, highlighting that children were more exposed to cyberbullying, harmful content and sexual exploitation during lockdowns. "During this pandemic, I have received many complaints from girls, boys, and young people about their struggles at home such as stress, exploitation, domestic violence, and child marriage," Suci, the chairperson of Kediri Village Child Protection Group in Indonesia, told report authors. Economic strain could see rise in child marriage and exploitation Huu, a high school student from Vietnam, said she knew two girls who had married during the pandemic. "Due to the current pandemic, many girls are giving up their learning opportunities for marriage to alleviate the new economic hardship," she said in the report.