Child Rights in Disaster Risk Management. Policy position paper

This document has been produced by the Interamerican Children’s Institute (IIN), a specialized body of the Organization of American States (OAS), which works jointly with Member States in child-related affairs. The paper covers child rights in disaster risk management- one of the priorities of the organization’s Action Plan for the period 2011/2015 – and highlights the need to place the subject on national and regional agendas.
Children in particular are especially vulnerable to risk, emergencies and disasters, in view of their age and level of development, and they therefore need to be given priority and specialized care. The paper further highlights the importance of developing tools and strategies to provide support for national, bilateral and regional interventions regarding the effects and consequences of disasters. The document also provides political and technical recommendations which will help strengthen the capacity of governing bodies for children to advocate for the issue in relevant areas of influence.