English: During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures such as lockdown and social distancing restrictions have been essential to contain the virus and protect the health of the population. However, for some people, this has increased exposure to harm within the home and online, whilst reducing access to care and support from services. In particular, this has placed children and young people at risk, with the potential for increased exposure to adverse childhood experiences and violence that has the potential to have long-term consequences. There are several ways in which ACEs may have been exacerbated by the social isolation, job loss, school closures and other stressors unleashed by the pandemic. Firstly, the pandemic may have increased intrafamilial adversity, exposing children to increased parental anxieties, especially those associated with job loss, food insecurity and housing insecurity. Such stresses may linger for months or years. Secondly, by amplifying toxic stress, increasing family adversity may impair child brain development, particularly during early years. We've seen trauma through losing loved ones. We've also seen that the pandemic and its response are disproportionately affecting low-income and ethnic minority populations, which are already at increased risk for ACE-impacted chronic conditions like pre-term birth, diabetes, hypertension and chronic lung disease. The United Nations have projected that there will be over 1 million preventable child deaths globally as a result of the indirect impact of the pandemic on children and young people. These are harrowing statistics. We must act swiftly. We must act now to support our children and young people, and I hope colleagues from across the political divide today can support our amendment so that we work together to support our children and young people.
Welsh: Yn ystod pandemig COVID-19, mae mesurau iechyd y cyhoedd fel cyfyngiadau symud a chadw pellter cymdeithasol wedi bod yn hanfodol i atal y feirws a diogelu iechyd y boblogaeth. Fodd bynnag, i rai pobl, mae hyn wedi golygu eu bod yn fwy agored i niwed yn y cartref ac ar-lein, tra'n lleihau mynediad at ofal a chymorth gan wasanaethau. Yn fwyaf arbennig, mae hyn wedi rhoi plant a phobl ifanc mewn perygl, gyda'r perygl o fod yn fwy agored i brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod a thrais a allai arwain at ganlyniadau hirdymor. Mae sawl ffordd y gallai profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod fod wedi'u gwaethygu gan yr ynysigrwydd cymdeithasol, colli swyddi, cau ysgolion a mathau eraill o straen a achoswyd gan y pandemig. Yn gyntaf, mae'n bosibl fod y pandemig wedi cynyddu trallod o fewn y teulu, gan wneud plant yn fwy agored i bryderon rhieni, yn enwedig pryderon sy'n gysylltiedig â cholli swydd, ansicrwydd bwyd ac ansicrwydd tai. Gall straen o'r fath aros ym meddwl rhywun am fisoedd neu flynyddoedd. Yn ail, drwy gynyddu straen gwenwynig, gallai trallod teuluol cynyddol amharu ar ddatblygiad ymennydd plant, yn enwedig yn ystod y blynyddoedd cynnar. Rydym wedi gweld trawma ar ôl colli anwyliaid. Rydym hefyd wedi gweld bod y pandemig a'r ymateb iddo yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar boblogaethau incwm isel a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, sydd eisoes mewn mwy o berygl o fod â chyflyrau cronig yr effeithir arnynt gan brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod fel geni cyn amser, diabetes, gorbwysedd a chlefyd cronig yr ysgyfaint. Mae'r Cenhedloedd Unedig wedi rhagweld y bydd dros 1 filiwn o farwolaethau plant y gellir bod wedi eu hatal ar draws y byd o ganlyniad i effaith anuniongyrchol y pandemig ar blant a phobl ifanc. Mae'r rhain yn ystadegau dirdynnol. Rhaid inni weithredu'n gyflym. Rhaid inni weithredu yn awr i gefnogi ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gall cyd-Aelodau o bob ochr i'r rhaniad gwleidyddol gefnogi ein gwelliant heddiw fel ein bod yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i gefnogi ein plant a'n pobl ifanc.