​Interview with Ms Diana Díaz Álvarez, 

Director of help-lines at the Assistance for Children and Adolescents at Risk (ANAR) Foundation

Spain has been one of the most affected countries by the Covid-19 pandemic. There have been 239,638 confirmed cases and 27,127 deaths so far (03/06/2020). On 14 March 2020, the Spanish government declared a state of emergency, forcing all individuals residing in Spain to stay at home. On 16 March 2020, all schools in the country closed. Only on 26 April 2020 children were allowed to leave their homes for one hour each day. Spanish students will not return to school until the school year starts again in September.

Since 1970, the ANAR Foundation has been promoting the rights of children and adolescents in situations of risk and distress, both in Spain and in Latin America. It provides them with psychological and social support, and legal assistance through various communication channels. They include amongst others the ANAR Help-Line for Children and Adolescents at Risk - a free and confidential line that operates 24 hours a day, the ANAR Email and the ANAR Chat. Diana Díaz Álvarez, the director of the ANAR Foundation help-lines, talked to UNESCO about the violence children have been exposed to both while they were staying at home because of the lockdown, and in the current context in which they still cannot easily communicate with their teachers, health professionals or social workers.

Violence against children increased during the lockdown

The ANAR Foundation has dealt with a total of 5,766 requests for help since the lockdown started. Over 50% of these requests were related to violence. Cases of domestic violence (physical and psychological abuse) are the most frequent, followed by gender-related violence, sexual abuse and neglect. The prevalence of violence has been increasing since the state of emergency was declared. In the first weeks of the lockdown the percentage of requests for help due to violence was much lower (36.1%).

The age of children who contact ANAR starts around 11-12 years as they begin to use digital devices. The peak is between 14 and 17 years old. During the first weeks of the lockdown, ANAR reinforced the chat service to allow children to contact the Foundation with maximum confidentiality and security, since it was difficult for them to make calls while they were staying at home with their aggressors 24 hours a day. They can use the Chat when they feel it is safe, without drawing attention. ANAR created an automatic deletion system to prevent children from being caught by their aggressor. The chat is anonymous and confidential like the rest of the ANAR help lines.​

School bullying has continued online 

Children often contact the ANAR Foundation for cases of cyber-bullying including grooming, sexting, etc. However, they usually ask for help only when they are clearly at risk. During the lockdown children have used their digital devices much longer than usual because they have been spending more time at home.  School bullying has continued online. Those children who used to be victims of bullying at school are talking about the effects of bullying they experienced at school: they sleep badly, eat badly, and are constantly afraid. They are also beginning to verbalize their fears concerning the time they will have to go back to school.

Testimony of a 14-year-old girl: “It was so horrible all that happened that I still feel bad remembering it … one day they caught me outside of school and they put me in a corner to beat me ...I spent days crying, feeling depressed and I didn't want to go back to school … then they left me alone and I was starting to feel better … but now they have created a new Facebook page and an Instagram account to insult me, they mock me and they kick me out of groups… It’s starting all over again, the situation has not changed, except I am staying at home.‘ ​

Testimony of a 15-year old girl who called ANAR after she was sexually abused. “I want to thank you for being there … It makes me feel better knowing that there is someone to whom I can tell my story, without being judged … and the fact you told me that my parents should call you, so that you could explain them how to report the case … and also that they should show compassion … I am so thankful. Now we are all in this together.”​

For more information on the work done by the ANAR Foundation, please visit the website: ANAR Foundation (Spanish)

>> Find out more on UNESCO’s work on school violence and bullying​