One Year into COVID: The Impact on Child Maltreatment Reports and the CPS Response in Brazil, Australia, and Israel

In the months of March to October, 2020, the number of calls to the MOLSA 118 helpline concerning violence towards minors doubled in comparison to the same months in 2019.

Along the rise in calls to 118 helpline regarding violence toward children, there was a decrease of 21% in referrals regarding neglect, and a decrease of 38% in referrals regarding sexual abuse.

Referrals- dramatic decrease in referrals from the educational system. More referrals from neighbours

Decrease of 19% in the number of minors who were identified by healthcare clinics as suffering from domestic violence or CSA and were reported to the police or CPS, as opposed to 2019. Similarly, there was a 4% decrease of domestic violence and sexual assault victims in hospital settings (Israel national council for the child, 2020).

The number of reports made to 105 hotline, the national call center for child protection in cyberspace belonging to the child online protection bureau, increased by 63% (from 3,944 to 6,406) compared to the same months in 2019, while the calls made by minors increased by 57% (from 1,066 to 1,660).

In March-October 2020 there was an increase of 24% in the number of minors treated at centres for sexual assault compared to 2019