Children facing crises

1Risks for children in crises

In emergencies, children often make up half of the affected population. The Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) describe the main risks:

• family separation (unaccompanied and separated children);
• physical and emotional violence and harmful practices (child marriage, female genital mutilation);
• sexual and gender-based violence;
• child labour, including its worst forms;
• association with armed forces and armed groups;
• psychosocial distress and mental health disorders;
• dangers and injuries (landmines, explosive ordnance, accidents).

2The framework: children's rights and the Minimum Standards

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989) protects every person under 18. Its principles guide every decision: best interests of the child, non-discrimination, the right to life, survival and development, and the right to be heard. International humanitarian law also gives children special protection, and the Paris Principles govern the prevention of recruitment and the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups.

The CPMS (Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, 2019) set out 28 standards: quality of the response, risks, prevention and response strategies, and mainstreaming child protection in other sectors.

3Principles of action: do no harm and participation

Every action with children follows a few rules:

• Do no harm: do not expose the child, do not multiply interviews, do not promise what you cannot deliver.
• Confidentiality: share only what is necessary, with the right people, with the consent of the child or parent whenever possible.
• Participation: listen to children and take their views into account according to their age and maturity.
• Strengthen families and communities, the first protectors of children.

Never publish a photo or story that could identify a child survivor.

4Child safeguarding within organisations

Organisations themselves can pose risks. Child safeguarding requires: a signed code of conduct, reference checks during recruitment, a ban on being alone with a child outside the planned setting, rules for photos and social media, and a safe reporting mechanism.

Any suspicion of abuse by a staff member or partner is reported immediately, following the organisation's procedure, without investigating yourself and while protecting the child.