Save the Children’s Position Paper

To the 10th Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 14-18 October 2024, Manila, Philippines

BACKGROUND                                                                                                                                        

The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) is a biennial regional platform in Asia-Pacific jointly organized and convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and a host Asia-Pacific country to promote regional coordination and cooperation on disaster risk reduction. The Conference brings together UN Member States, inter-governmental bodies, INGOs/NGOs, and major stakeholder groups to review progress and discuss ways to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 2024 conference, co-hosted by the Government of the Philippines and themed “Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia-Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction”, offers a significant opportunity to review risk reduction efforts, share innovative solutions, and make actionable commitments to accelerate DRR by 2030 in this highly disaster-prone region. The conference also falls on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, which this year has the theme “Empowering children and youth on disaster risk reduction” encouraging a strong focus on children and youth at this year’s APMCDRR.

A GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN                                                                                                                                        

Children face unique and additional susceptibility to the negative impacts of disasters. Children under five, while only 30% of the global population, bear 88% of the global disease burden associated with climate change. Disasters and conflict can disrupt children’s access to education during their crucial formative years, putting their futures on hold. And additional health; water, sanitation and hygiene; and child protection issues arise as children’s rights fall to the wayside in times of crisis.

Climate change only accelerates this urgent need for action. Weather events in East Asia and the Pacific have increased six-fold over the past 50 years. More broadly, the region is home to climate crisis hotspots, with rising sea levels, extreme temperatures, worsening storms, and other climate-related impacts making the need for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) action even more urgent.

However, children are not just victims of disaster – they play a crucial role in developing resilient and effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies. Children are activists, and advocate for actions to support their own resilience and that of their communities. When children learn about DRR, they become agents of change, passing this knowledge on to their families and communities.

Despite the urgent need for child-centered action on DRR, there is a significant gap in disaster preparedness and child protection measures. Schools and communities in Asia-Pacific often lack the necessary emergency response plans to protect children from hazards. Additionally, children are frequently excluded from the planning and decision-making processes related to DRR, leaving their specific needs unaddressed. As a result, the rights of children in Asia-Pacific– including their right to health, education, and protection – are at risk if child-centered DRR is not prioritized, invested in, and championed by countries across the region.

This APMCDRR presents an unparalleled opportunity to course -correct by placing child rights at the heart of national, local, and regional action on DRR –just in time, as the climate crisis is already unfolding. This conference comes not a moment too soon.

SAVE THE CHILDREN’S CALL TO ACTION                                                                                                                 

Save the Children calls on governments and other stakeholders (e.g. private sector, CSOs) to seize the APMCDRR moment to advance action for children on DRR by committing to:

• Prioritize children’s needs and participation in emergency preparedness, response and recovery, putting children’s protection, education, health, and emotional well-being at the center of policymaking will ensure that children receive the critical support necessary to prepare for, recover after, and thrive in the aftermath of
• Involve children in all their diversity as active agents in DRR, Anticipatory Action, and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, by ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making processes related to early warning systems and preparedness strategies, disaster response and recovery efforts within their This should also include their involvement in risk assessments, monitoring, and preparation. Efforts must extend beyond the national to the local and sub-national level, and include the voices of all children, including children with disabilities, girls, and children from minoritized backgrounds.
• Ensure the institutionalization and implementation of child-centered DRR initiatives and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems through a collective and integrated approach that engages schools, families, local communities, and governments at all levels, with the aim of enhancing community preparedness to better support children and other vulnerable groups before, during, and after hazardous Children should be actively involved in these systems by participating in their design, testing, and maintenance, which not only ensures their needs are addressed but also strengthens the systems' overall effectiveness.
• Strengthen multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration in the planning and implementation of DRR policies and programs, by involving all relevant ministries (including but not limited to Disaster Risk Management, Environment, Social Affairs, Finance, Health, and Education). This approach will bolster systems, eliminate resource duplication, ensure timely service delivery, and safeguard vulnerable populations, particularly children, during This should be aligned with ASEAN mechanisms and frameworks for maximum effectiveness.
• Advance local empowerment, knowledge and data utilization, and community-centered approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction by developing sustainable, community-driven solutions (with a focus on children’s needs). This includes enhancing the capacity of local actors, facilitating dialogue and community outreach, raising awareness of adaptation actions, and improving access to and utilization of climate and disaster information services by at-risk children and Importantly, local administrations at the district and divisional levels also need to integrate disaster risk considerations into their planning and decision-making processes.
• Strengthen education and child protection systems before, during, and after disasters through evidence- and experienced-based For education, this includes endorsement and implementation of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework, a key tool to strengthen the resilience of education systems, support education continuity and provide children with the skills, knowledge and behaviors to prepare for and respond to all shocks and stresses, and include training programs to strengthen the capacity of education staff on DRR, school safety, and resilience. For child protection, prevention and mitigation should be prioritized through approaches such as the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) in the Philippines. This emphasizes child protection by safeguarding children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect during crises. It provides safe spaces, psychosocial support, and essential services to ensure their safety and well-being in emergency situations.
• Increase investments in localized and child-centered DRR, ensuring there is adequate funding for sustaining and expanding child-centered disaster risk reduction initiatives, allocation of budget at the sub-national level to operationalize National Plans for DRR, and increased public investment in targeting hazard mitigation at the local level, empowering local actors in the process.