Child Protection in Emergencies is Lifesaving
Prevention and response to:
 separation of children
 exploitation and gender-based violence
 psychosocial distress and mental disorders
 recruitment and use of children with armed forces and armed groups
 physical harm, including landmines and explosive remnants of war
Child Protection in Emergencies is Lifesaving

The Human Rights of children that support them to be free from violence, exploitation and abuse are
articulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Children, the responsibility for their realization
exists in both emergency and non emergency settings, as such they are non derogable. Likewise in
international and non international armed conflicts a number of the International Humanitarian Law
provisions that effect children have gained the level of custom and in some cases jus cogens, the peak
in the hierarchy of in international law.

Child Protection, included in the Sphere standards and companion standards, is equal is all other
sectors accepted as immediate and lifesaving (water, shelter, nutrition etc).

Where no action is taken on serious child protection issues (recruitment and use, dangers such as
UXO, sexual violence etc.) children are at significantly higher risk of death or serious injury than when
there is intervention.

One of the most common reasons for displacement inside and outside Syria is to seek physical safety.
Child protection and protection issues (e.g. family tracing, physical security, emergency care for
unaccompanied children) are frequently identified as priority issues for affected persons alongside
other responses.

Threats to women and children’s physical safety are often not seen and therefore not prevented
without the support of the child protection sector, for example accessing goods in poorly
implemented distributions. Likewise, badly designed shelters that put the safety of children at risk
(through inadequate lighting, over-crowding, lack of segregated WASH facilities etc) can often be
easily addressed from the outset, but protection problems can become more entrenched and difficult
to tackle later on.

Survivors of gender-based violence are often reluctant to seek help due to feelings of shame, fear and
stigma, this can be further compounded by health and social services. The engagement of specialist
personnel to guide inter-agency multi-sectoral gender-based violence programmes can maximize
outcomes in other sectors to benefit survivors of gender-based violence including by ensuring the
provision of accessible confidential, survivor-centered services and to ensuring violence is
appropriately addressed across all sectors. When programmes that address gender-based violence
are not established, survivors not receive lifesaving assistance, the risks they face continue and no
measures are put in place to prevent them.

The psychological and social impacts of the crisis in Syria are acute and risk undermining the longterm mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children. Providing support to give a sense of
normality, stability and structure to children can reduce the risk that short-term distress leads to
longer term mental health issues. Psychosocial support may reduce the risk of adolescents joining or
being used by armed forces and armed groups by facilitating non-violent alternatives for community
service. It can also assist in identifying, registering, referring and following-up extremely vulnerable
children (including survivors of gender-based violence, children with no access to basic services and
those requiring special protection measures).The provision of psychosocial support can also relieve
stress in caregivers that might otherwise be turned into violence against children and women.

During emergencies there is an increased risk of violence against children as traditional elements of a
protective environment are absent or less effective (such as lack of law and order, disintegration of
families and communities, change in some social norms and behavior). This can amplify pre-existing
social problems and create new ones, such as gender-based violence and separation of children from
their caregivers. Specialized services are needed to connect survivors with assistance, including
medical care and counseling. When programmes are not established, not only do survivors not
receive lifesaving assistance, the risks they face will continue as no measures will be put in place to
prevent them.

Financial stress (due to loss of livelihoods, high inflation, depletion of household resources etc) as a
result of the crisis places children at higher risk of various forms of exploitation, including worst forms
of child labour, child marriage or sexual exploitation. Child protection programmes are needed to
strengthen/set-up prevention strategies, as well as to identify, register, refer and follow-up extremely
vulnerable children.

During population moves and armed conflict, such as shelling and airstrikes, the risk of separation of
children from their family members is increased. Child protection programmes are needed to identify,
register, and to facilitate family tracing, reunification and emergency care arrangements. When
programmes are not established, children are at higher risk of disappearance, exploitation,
recruitment and use by armed groups and forces etc.

Child protection programmes are needed to provide information on services and support, and to
facilitate systematic identification and referral of children in need of assistance (such as healthcare,
food, education and shelter).

Proliferation of small arms and use of mines, as well as the presence of ERWs and UXO, pose a
particular threat to children. The provision of information on physical threats such as avoiding
explosive remnants of war can prevent the death and maiming of children.
General “Child Protection in Emergencies is Lifesaving” statements:
 Child Protection, included in the Sphere standards and companion standards, is equal is all other
sectors accepted as immediate and lifesaving (water, shelter, nutrition etc).


Where no action is taken on serious child protection issues (recruitment and use, dangers such as
UXO, sexual violence etc.) children are at significantly higher risk of death or serious injury than when
there is intervention.
Child protection and protection issues (e.g. family tracing, physical security, emergency care for
unaccompanied children) are frequently identified as priority issues for affected persons alongside
responses that are already well recognized as immediate and lifesaving.
Sub-sector
CERF criteria
“Child Protection in Emergencies is
Lifesaving”
 Strengthen and/or deploy GBV
 Survivors of gender-based violence are
Gender-based
personnel to guide implementation of
often reluctant to seek help due to
violence
an inter-agency multi-sectoral GBV
feelings of shame, fear and stigma, this
programme response including
can be further compounded by health
ensuring provision of accessible
and social services. The engagement of
confidential, survivor-centered services
specialist personnel to guide inter-agency
to address GBV and to ensuring it is
multi-sectoral gender-based violence
appropriately addressed across all
programmes can maximize outcomes in
sectors.
other sectors to benefit survivors of
gender-based violence including by
ensuring the provision of accessible
confidential, survivor-centered services

Identify high-risk areas and factors
driving GBV in the emergency and
(working with others) strengthen/set
up prevention strategies including safe
access to fuel resources (per IASC Task
Force SAFE guidelines).


Improve access of survivors of gender
based violence to secure and
appropriate reporting, follow up and
protection, including to police
(particularly women police) or other
security personnel when available.


Identification, registration, family
tracing and reunification or interim
care arrangements for separated
children, orphans and children leaving
armed groups/forces.


Ensure proper referrals to other
services such as health, food,
education and shelter.

Child
protection
and to ensuring violence is appropriately
addressed across all sectors. When
programmes that address gender-based
violence are not established, survivors
not receive lifesaving assistance, the risks
they face continue and no measures are
put in place to prevent them.
Threats to women and children’s physical
safety are often not seen and therefore
not prevented without the support of the
child protection sector, for example
accessing goods in poorly implemented
distributions. Likewise, badly designed
shelters that put the safety of children at
risk (through inadequate lighting, overcrowding, lack of segregated WASH
facilities etc) can often be easily
addressed from the outset, but
protection problems can become more
entrenched and difficult to tackle later
on.
During emergencies there is an increased
risk of violence against women and
children as traditional elements of a
protective environment are absent or less
effective (such as lack of law and order,
disintegration of families and
communities, change in some social
norms and behavior). This can amplify
pre-existing social problems and create
new ones, such as gender-based violence
and separation of children from their
caregivers. Specialized services are
needed to connect survivors with
assistance, including medical care and
counseling. When programmes are not
established, not only do survivors not
receive lifesaving assistance, the risks
they face will continue as no measures
will be put in place to prevent them.
During population moves and armed
conflict, such as shelling and airstrikes,
the risk of separation of children from
their family members is increased. Child
protection programmes are needed to
identify, register, and to facilitate family
tracing, reunification and emergency care
arrangements. When programmes are
not established, children are at higher risk
of disappearance, exploitation,
recruitment and use by armed groups and
forces etc.
Child protection programmes are needed
to provide information on services and
support, and to facilitate systematic


Identification, registration, referral
and follow-up for other extremely
vulnerable children, including survivors
of GBV and other forms of violence,
children with no access to basic service
and those requiring special protection
measures.
Provision of psychosocial support to
children affected by the emergency,
e.g. through provision of child friendly
spaces or other community-based
interventions, return to school or
emergency education, mental health
referrals where expertise exists.

identification and referral of children in
need of assistance (such as healthcare,
food, education and shelter).
During emergencies there is an increased
risk of violence against women and
children as traditional elements of a
protective environment are absent or less
effective (such as lack of law and order,
disintegration of families and
communities, change in some social
norms and behavior). This can amplify
pre-existing social problems and create
new ones, such as gender-based violence
and separation of children from their
caregivers. Specialized services are
needed to connect survivors with
assistance, including medical care and
counseling. When programmes are not
established, not only do survivors not
receive lifesaving assistance, the risks
they face will continue as no measures
will be put in place to prevent them.

Financial stress (due to loss of livelihoods,
high inflation, depletion of household
resources etc) as a result of the crisis
places children at higher risk of various
forms of exploitation, including worst
forms of child labour, child marriage or
sexual exploitation. Child protection
programmes are needed to
strengthen/set-up prevention strategies,
as well as to identify, register, refer and
follow-up extremely vulnerable children.

The psychological and social impacts of
the crisis in Syria are acute and risk
undermining the long-term mental health
and psychosocial wellbeing of children.
Providing support to give a sense of
normality, stability and structure to
children can reduce the risk that shortterm distress leads to longer term mental
health issues.

Psychosocial support may reduce the risk
of adolescents joining or being used by
armed forces and armed groups by
facilitating non-violent alternatives for
community service.

Psychosocial support programmes can
assist in identifying, registering, referring
and following-up extremely vulnerable
children (including survivors of genderbased violence, children with no access to
basic services and those requiring special
protection measures).

The provision of psychosocial support can
relieve stress in caregivers that might
otherwise be turned into violence against
children and women.
Multiple assessments note that the
community is the first responder to
humanitarian issues, within its collective
capacity to cope with resilience.
Investment in community mechanisms
that support resilience and local
response to issues decreases the child
protection risks to children and provides
an avenue for response

Identification and strengthening, or
establishment of community-based
child protection mechanisms to assess,
monitor and address child protection
issues.


Emergency survey and clearance of
temporary resettlement area of
displaced population.
Emergency Clearance and/or Survey
(mines/UXO/cluster bombs) of
identified temporary settlement areas
or return areas, urban and/or
populated areas, access to water,
schools etc
Mine Risk Education for displaced
and/or returning population

Mine action



Proliferation of small arms and use of
mines, as well as the presence of ERWs
and UXO, pose a particular threat to
children. The provision of information on
physical threats such as avoiding
explosive remnants of war can prevent
the death and maiming of children.