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Please join us in working to break the cycle of abuse against children during this moment of crisis and beyond.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families are now facing disruptions in routine, isolation from society, more time spent at home and online, financial insecurity, stress, and anxiety, and as a result, the risk of violence against women and children in all forms is on the rise.
Many children are now hidden from the caring adults, community members, and mandated reporters who would have protected them: friends, neighbors, family members, teachers, doctors, dentists, and even child protective service professionals.
Additionally, large numbers of children are spending unprecedented time online, increasing exposure to online violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
Led by a group of adult survivors of child sexual abuse and national leaders, we are calling on Congress to take urgent action. Join us and help #keepkidssafe during COVID-19 and beyond.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact across the United States, and the data shows COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color, further exposing longtime racial inequities. We also know that longstanding structural barriers have made it more difficult for Black and Indigenous communities to access a variety of critical services focused on prevention, healing, and justice to end child sexual violence. In some cases, the systems designed to protect individuals and families have actually caused harm and exacerbated existing inequities.
This is unacceptable. We must work together to dismantle these barriers and ensure that these systems work to protect every child and serve all families and communities during COVID-19 and beyond. We can help do this by strengthening programs that not only prevent child abuse and protect kids but also provide trauma-informed services that help abused children heal.
In particular, we need to expand existing funding to grassroots organizations at the frontlines of child protection with programs that effectively serve diverse racial, ethnic, and religious communities, and that provide care for survivors and support for professionals who work to protect children. We must also work with allied organizations to ensure women and other at-risk populations are safe from violence.
Together for Girls c/o UNAIDS
1889 F Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20006
info@togetherforgirls.org