The Participation of Children and Young People in Emergencies A guide for relief agencies, based largely on experiences in the Asian tsunami response

The Asian tsunami of December 2004 triggered one of the largest humanitarian relief efforts of recent times. Not only did the scale of the tsunami response break many records, it also led to innovations in delivering relief and in managing rehabilitation efforts. The Participation of Children and Young People in Emergencies: A guide for relief agencies based largely on experiences in the Asian tsunami response has captured some of the most interesting and inspiring examples of children’s involvement in the tsunami disaster response and recovery phases, as collected by UNICEF and a wide array of partners and UN agencies. The examples of children’s participation in emergency response included in this guide show that their active involvement in relief and rehabilitation efforts are essential and should be a necessary and integral part of any humanitarian programme. Experiences with the participation of children and young people in emergency response, in rehabilitation and in reconstruction, demonstrate what they can contribute. These contributions have helped families and communities to survive and recover. They have ensured that relief and rehabilitation are more effective, and they have enabled young people to cope with the aftermath of the tsunami. A large portion of the material in this guide refers to the December 2004 tsunami. But this was supplemented by examples of children’s participation in emergencies drawn from elsewhere to show how their actions in the tsunami were not isolated. This guide has been written for staff and managers of relief agencies, UN organizations, children’s and young people’s agencies, and others who are involved in emergency response. It provides practical examples and guidance on supporting children’s rights to expression and information and on the active engagement of young people in emergencies. The guide was produced through a collaboration among UNICEF offices in the East Asia and Pacific and the South Asia Region and UNICEF headquarters