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ABSTRACT
Background
The Ebola virus is known as one of the deadliest pathogens to infect humans. Children represent a minority of Ebola Virus Disease cases globally. Yet, the different Ebola outbreaks in Africa had a wide impact on children’s lives and children’ rights.
Objective
Review the published literature to date on Children’s rights during Ebola outbreaks. Outcomes shall contribute to get a better understanding of the main limitations or violations of children’s rights, identify potential gaps in the literature and support the promotion and protection of children’s rights for current and future health crisis.
Methods
A scoping review from PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library and Web of Science was performed using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Articles, reports and editorial, published on Ebola Outbreaks between 1976 and 2020 were retrieved. The UNCRC clusters of rights and treaty specific guidelines were used as a framework. Documents were found through a targeted search of websites from international or regional organisations involved in Ebola crises and children’s protection.
Results
48 articles and reports were reviewed. Few documents focused solely on children’s rights. Several articles covered the topic of children and Ebola outbreaks. Most of the data are linked to basic health, education, discrimination of orphans and survivors. 31% of the reviewed articles underline the violence against the children (rape, abuse, Female genital mutilations), while 21% focus on the right to education. 23% cover the topic of orphans. Impact on mental health and SRH were amongst the other covered topics.
Conclusion
A lack of data on children’s rights and their violations during epidemics is observed. Regional and international collaboration is needed to document the situation of children in health emergencies. Health measures and strategies based on children’s opinions and raising awareness of their crucial role in society is key. Child-centred guidelines should be developed based on these elements.
Responsible Editor
Stig Wall
Responsible Editor
Stig Wall
List of abbreviations
| ACHPR | = | African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights |
| ACERWC | = | African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child |
| ACRWC | = | African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child |
| AU | = | African Union |
| ICRC | = | International Committee of the Red Cross |
| CRC | = | Committee on the Rights of the Child |
| DRC | = | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| EBOVE | = | bola Virus |
| ETF | = | European Training Foundation |
| EVDE | = | bola Virus Disease |
| FGM | = | Female Genital Mutilation |
| IHRDA | = | Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa |
| ISSOP | = | International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health |
| MHPSS | = | Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services |
| NGO | = | Non-Governmental Organization |
| SRH | = | Sexual and Reproductive Health |
| UNCRC | = | United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child |
| UNHCR | = | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| UNFPA | = | United Nations Population Fund |
| UNGA | = | United Nations General Assembly |
| UNICEF | = | United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund |
| WHO | = | World Health Organization |
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the organization “Save the children” for their support in the search of applicable resources for our study.
Author contributions
Irene Lunghi contributed to the implementation of the research methodology, analysis of the results and writing of the original manuscript, review and editing.
Awa Babington-Ashaye, contributed to the validation of the research design, review and editing of the manuscript.
Prof. Jean-Dominique Vassalli, Dr Yvon Heller, Prof. Pierre-André Michaud, Dr Didier Wernli, Olivia Heller and Prof. Antoine Flahault reviewed and commented on the content of the manuscript.
Prof. Stéphanie Dagron designed and supervised the research, reviewed, commented and edited the manuscript.
All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Ethics and consent
Not applicable
Paper context
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal disease affecting humans. Serious impacts of the Ebola outbreaks on children’s rights have been noticed. Our paper aims to review published literature on Ebola and Children’s rights; our findings highlight a paucity of data available and serious rights’ violations impairing children’s health and areas such as education, mental health, family relationships, child abuses. Promoting children’s rights and collaboration between stakeholders and countries is essential.
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