In the U.S., March 2020 was the first time there were no reported school shootings during the month of March since 2002, as most schools closed amid COVID-19. That is a silver lining for children while higher cases of abuse and exploitation have been reported during the international COVID-19 lockdown.

Around the world, domestic abuse cases have spiked. Children are often witnesses to abuse or abused themselves. Children in abusive households are at greater risk during the lockdown and 1 in 15 American children are exposed to 'intimate partner abuse' each year. Experts say that parental financial strain is a factor contributing to both domestic and child abuse.

Child sexual abuse is also on the rise. There's been an increase in cases where abuse is being live-streamed from places like the Philippines to pedophiles mostly in the West. 

With the lockdown, many kids from low-income families are at risk of going hungry. 60% of school-aged children in the U.S. depend on the  National School Lunch Program for nutritious, balanced meals.

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