Urgent calls increased by 60% between mid-March and early April, compared to data collected in February.
- Confinement generates tensions in families
- The 119 which is used to alert on violence against children received 20% more calls between March 18 and April 6
The 119 standard is more in demand during this period of confinement. This telephone line, dedicated to reporting child abuse, received 20% more calls between March 18 and April 6, compared to the period from February 12 to March 2.
#EndangeredChildhood
As long as we do nothing, the violence will continue.
To stop this, you have to act, even in case of doubt you have to call 119.Witness to a situation, to act: https://t.co/M9VTfFLLCh pic.twitter.com/lSy0dbVazg
— Government (@gouvernementFR) April 9, 2020
Many calls from classmates
As the confinement progressed, the calls gradually multiplied, they increased by 15% in the second week, compared to the first, then by 53% between the third and the second. The Secretary of State for Child Protection reports a 34% increase in calls from children in danger and 30% from their neighbours. Children help each other, and thanks to social networks, they can continue to communicate. Calls from boyfriends and/or girlfriends of child victims of violence increased by 36% over this period.
Information campaigns to publicize 119
Beyond the situation, unfortunately conducive to the increase in domestic violence, several information and communication campaigns have been launched since the end of March to encourage victims and witnesses to report. On Wednesday April 8, Unicef France and the feminist collective #NousToutes launched a communication campaign to raise awareness of violence against children, called #EntendonsLeursCris. “Our goal is that the youngest remember the existence of 119 and feel able to use it when the need arises, during confinement but also afterwards.specifies a communicated of the international organization. The government has also launched a communication campaign, particularly in the media, and the means of reporting have been diversified: an online reporting form has been set up on the 119 website. Victims or witnesses of this violence can also send an SMS to 114.
According to UNICEF France, 200 cases of violence against children, perpetrated by those around them, are recorded every day in France, outside the confinement period. It is at the same time physical, psychological or sexual violence.
.
