World risk report 2018: Child protection and children's rights

The focus on “Child protection and children’s rights” draws attention to a particularly vulnerable section of the population. The number of children who have had to flee because of disasters, who were exploited, abused, injured, or even killed over the last few years is alarming. About one out of every four children worldwide lives in a country affected by disasters. The WorldRiskReport 2018 explores the rights of children in the context of disasters, explains the particular vulnerability of young people, and clarifies the vital need for action in this area.

Recommendations for strengthening children in disaster management include: 

• Disaster management plans and disaster preparedness concepts have to address the needs of children as an especially vulnerable group in prevention, intervention, and transitional aid.
• Children have to be integrated in preparedness, intervention, and transitional aid. Their perception of risks, their ideas and solutions, and their demands should be heard.
• Action plans for children in areas strongly affected by extreme natural events should be developed together with children.
• Schools and kindergartens are important actors both in preparedness and in relief measures and transitional aid. They require adequate financial and human resources. Support provided by specialists in the form of staff training programs or disaster management drills are urgently required.