Children and Disaster Risk Reduction: The Resilient Future We Want
Ms Christel Rose, UNISDR (rosec@un.org)
Description
With increasing exposure and vulnerability to disaster risk, it is the next generation that will be most impacted. Children and youth are often consulted but are rarely heard or considered around decision-making for reducing risks of disasters. They are potentially the most powerful agents to change mentality and behaviour when it comes to risk both within and outside their communities and families.
In the consultations for the post-2015 disaster risk reduction framework or HFA2 (for example in the Regional Platforms in 2012 and 2013 in Asia, Africa, and Latin America) children and youth have been heard. They have expressed their views and aspirations including the desire for a Youth Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience in 2015 and to be a key part of the development of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (HFA2).
The event is also an opportunity to report on the progress of the Children’s Charter for Disaster Risk Reduction that was launched at the 2011 Global Platform. The Charter outlines several areas that aim to increase investment on children and youth including for example in education, school safety, and protecting the most vulnerable in society. The Children’s Charter signatories include governments (national and local), civil society, and the private sector.
Session Objectives:
To listen to children and youth on their views, experiences and aspirations around disaster risk reduction and building resilience.
To recognize the value children and youth bring to decision-making in disaster risk reduction.
To identify children as agents for resilience building at community level.
To determine actions and priorities for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2015.
To identify key issues like equitable access to disaster risk reduction education; safe schools and community education infrastructure; and, the needs of the most vulnerable (e.g. disabled children).
To launch the Children’s Charter study publication, providing participants with evidence and tools to replicate disaster risk reduction.
Discussion Agenda and Structure
The session will be centered around the views and ideas of children and youth. The event will combine a succession of video clips as well as physical presence of children from Central Asia, Latin America, Africa and Asia to maintain a highly interactive discussion, among children themselves as well as with national and / or local decision-makers.
1. Introduction and welcoming remarks by the Moderator. (10 min)
2. Video clips followed by discussion with a panel of children and national / local Governments representatives to provide input and recommendations into the post-2015 consultations recommendations, in line with the of the Children’s Charter. (50min)
3. Interactive debate among children panel and audience around key themes identified by children, including the organization of a Youth Forum for DRR in 2015. (20min)
4. Closing and summary by Moderator. (10min)
Relevance of the Initiative:
Children and youth recognised in Global and Regional Platforms. Major stakeholder in the movement to reduce disaster risk.
Subject's link to post-2015:
Views and priorities of children and youth to be reflected to HFA2.
Other Information
Tohoku’s Message
Children and youth declarations in Regional Platforms (Asia, Latin America, and Africa)
Expected Outcomes
Recognition of children and youth perspectives and as agents for change in reducing risk and building resilience.
Full engagement of children and youth in the development of a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
A set of priorities children and youth want to be reflected in the consultations of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
Summary of achievements and impact of the Children’s Charter.
Background Papers
- THE RESILIENT FUTURE WE WANT! An easy-read summary of the research by Plan, Save the Children, World Vision and UNICEF on the Children’s Charter for Disaster Risk Reduction (3.37 MB)
- Children and Disaster Risk Reduction in Post 2015 (1.39 MB)
- Towards the resilient future children want: a review of progress in achieving the Children’s Charter for Disaster Risk Reduction (5.24 MB)
Presentations
- Schools must be safe (654.39 Kb)
- Child protection must be a priority (632.58 Kb)
- Children have the right to participate and to access the information they need (725.23 Kb)
- Infrastructure must be safe (681.24 Kb)
- DRR must reach the most vulnerable (615.56 Kb)
