SAFETY MEANS MORE THAN HANDWASHING

With the rapid spread of the coronavirus, we are working to keep our communities safe and healthy. Efforts to contain the virus by closing schools and public gathering sites have led to dramatic increases in unsupervised children, increasing concerns about their safety. As educators and families are turning to technology to remain connected, the opportunities to exploit children through personal devices, laptops and video gaming have exploded.  

Research has shown that, in times of crisis, the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children skyrockets. While we can’t fully understand right now how the spread of COVID-19 will impact our communities, the patterns from other disease outbreaks point to risks for abuse: loss of income, isolation from school and other social supports, disruption in normal daily routines and deep stigma for those infected. And while sex traffickers won’t tell us if they expect more business during a period of “social distancing,” there are already an alarming number of reports that the commercial sex industry is gearing up to produce more “adult” online content. That “adult” content, however, increasingly includes images of sexually abused children.

With back-to-school season in full swing, whether a child is returning to the classroom on a full schedule, modified schedule, or virtually, it's important to keep online safety a priority. Please check out EPCAT USA’s no-nonsense online safety guides for youth, parents, and teachers. This crucial information is available for free in both English and Spanish.