Children's rights in emergencies and disasters

This article outlines children’s rights in emergencies and disasters. The authors express concern that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of inadequate social conditions, natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger and disability. They therefore call for urgent and effective national and international action.

In the aftermath of a disaster, ensuring the survival of children should be a priority of relief agencies and governments who arrive on the scene and undertake rapid assessments to ascertain health and nutrition needs.

The authors note that every new disaster brings renewed demands for a swifter response. The authors note that there is a danger that such requests strengthen and centralise the power and authority of technical and sectoral agencies, favouring fast-moving, non-participatory practices that undermine the ability of communities to respond. Therefore, at a time when humanitarian agencies agree that considering the participation of children and young people is difficult, children and young people perceive themselves to be participating to the highest degree.

The authors conclude that children should be seen both as beneficiaries (their basic rights to survival, development, and protection) and as actors (providing useful knowledge of their communities, neighbourhoods, and family assets, and actively contributing to disaster relief and recovery efforts).

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