National Conference On

REPORT NATIONAL CONFERENCE CHILDREN IN DISASTERS & EMERGENCIES: UNDERSTANDING VULNERABILITY, DEVELOPING CAPACITIES & PROMOTING RESILIENCE March 08-10, 2021 Organized By CHILD CENTRIC DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CENTRE (CCDRR), NIDM & SAVE THE CHILDREN Knowledge Partners 1 CHILDREN IN DISASTERS & EMERGENCIES: UNDERSTANDING VULNERABILITY, DEVELOPING CAPACITIES & PROMOTING RESILIENCE “CHILDREN CAN’T WAIT” CONTENTS S. No. Topic Pg. No 1 About the Conference 03 - 06 2 Programme & Session Schedule 07 - 10 3 Inaugural Session 11 - 13 4 Context Setting Session 13 - 15 5 Day 1 - Theme: Understanding Vulnerabilities – Protecting 15 - 16 Children in All Context of Disasters & Emergencies 6 Day 2 - Theme: Developing Capacities – All Children are 17 - 26 Safe, Learn and Thrive 7 Day 3 – Theme: Promoting Resilience – Commitment to 27 - 36 Reaching the Most Marginalised and Vulnerable Children 8 Valedictory Session 36 - 38 9 Summary of Recommendations 39 - 41 10 Profile of Speakers and Domain Experts 42 - 51 11 Profile of Programme Convenor & Coordinators 52 - 53 12 Annexure 1: List of Participants 54 - 151 2 1. About the Conference 1.1 BACKGROUND India is vulnerable to a large number of hazards which is compounded by increasing vulnerabilities related to changing demographics and socio-economic conditions, unplanned urbanization, development within high-risk zones, environmental degradation, climate change, geological hazards, epidemics and pandemics. This poses a serious threat to India’s overall economy, its population and sustainable development. Vulnerability from disasters varies from one community to the other and in space. Community’s preparedness always plays an important role in reducing disasters and emergency risk and vulnerability. India’s total Child population is (164.5 million1) as compared to the total 328.46 million2 US population; more than half of the total US population. Children are most often neglected and marginalized as their educational, nutritional, physical and psychological safety and overall care and protection is compromised above other considerations in times of disasters and emergencies. In addition to natural disasters, physical hazards and pandemics; there are many other human induced risks that can perpetuate and put children in a vulnerable stance at home, within community, school or outside. Further, gender inequalities existing in society underpins greater vulnerabilities for the girl child. Children are also most likely to suffer long-term developmental, physical and psychological setbacks following a disaster or emergency situation. Preparing ahead of time to meet children’s unique needs at times of disasters and emergencies is critical to their protection. If we do not prioritize children’s needs, we will never be able to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sendai Framework for DRR and Hon’ble Prime Minister’s 10 point agenda of DRR. Hence, it is essential to ensure that children are safe and secure, thrive, and learn in both developmental and emergency scenarios. Every child, no matter who they are or where they come from, deserves safety, security, protection, relief and care in times of a crisis situation 1.1.1 CHILDREN ARE THE WORST AFFECTED DURING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS OR AN EMERGENCY There is a lot at stake for children during a disaster or emergency situation. Latest reports suggest that children living in disaster-prone regions in India are twice as likely to be living in poverty. In five major natural disasters from 2000-2016, 17,671 children 1 Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, 2011 2 US Census as on date retrieved on Feb, 24, 2021 https://www.census.gov/popclock 3 lost their lives. The 2015-2016 drought in 10 states affected an approximated 330 million people, including 37 million children under five years. 1.1.2 CHILDREN’S EDUCATION IS HAMPERED DURING AN EMERGENCY Children are unable to maintain the continuity of education during a disaster or emergency situation. In such situations, the lack of resources, alternatives, coping mechanisms, trained teachers and staff to prevent educational disruption often poses a threat meeting children’s needs as have been evident during many previous disasters and also during Covid-19 pandemic. Latest UNICEF Report says in India about 1.5 million schools were closed for almost a year in 2020 impacting 247 million children. Additionally, gaps in research and data procurement prevent decision- makers from evaluating the situation and responding effectively. 1.1.3 MANY CHILDREN ARE TRAFFICKED AND/OR ABUSED DURING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS Child trafficking witnesses an increase in the number of cases during a crisis situation. In General, about 50% of trafficked victims are below the age of 16; about 80% of victims are female. About 1.2 million children trafficked annually. A pressing issue that needs to be responded to is child trafficking in contexts of a humanitarian crisis and in spite of rules and laws lives no gap, how to improve the situation at the implementational level. There is a need to take into account present mechanisms and policies to generate robust protection programmes and relief initiatives; wherein, information and behavioural changes amongst the stakeholders constitute a major concern. 1.1.4 CHILDREN SUFFER FROM LACK OF SAFE DRINKING WATER, FOOD AND HYGIENE DURING AN EMERGENCY Basic necessities are often denied to children during a crisis situation. Children are subjected to some of the harshest living conditions during a disaster or emergency situation. Most of the people, communities and families put children at last receiver in times of crisis, most so for the girl child. Lack of food, water, shelter, and medical aid is the bitter realities of lakhs of children and families during a humanitarian crisis. The challenges and gaps as stated above are multi-dimensional, and involve different stakeholders at different levels in order to take up the challenges and improve the situation. To amplify the needs of children during emergencies, Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, National Institute of Disaster Management 4 (NIDM) has collaborated with Save the Children, to organise a virtual conference on Children in Disasters & Emergencies: Understanding Vulnerability, Developing Capacities & Promoting Resilience. During this conference, the well tested approaches for Child-Centric DRR preparedness and response will be discussed to scale. 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF CONFERENCE ● To identify key risk factors for and discuss impact of Disasters & Emergencies on Children. ● To provide opportunity to the policy makers, academicians, practitioners, civil society members, parents, teachers and children to come on a common shared platform to amplify and advocate for prioritising needs of children during disasters and emergencies. ● To share knowledge, tools, and noteworthy practices in the area of disaster preparedness and response keeping children at the centre. ● To strengthen partnerships for child centric disaster risk reduction with and amongst a large range of existing and potential partners and stakeholders. 1.3 ORGANISERS ● Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (CCDRR), NIDM, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India & ● Save the Children 1.4 KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS ● UNICEF ● World Vision ● Child Rights and You (CRY) ● Policy Perspectives Foundation (PPF) ● Handicap International ● YWCA of Delhi 5 1.5 TIME AND VENUE OF THE CONFERENCE 1. Date: March 08-10, 2021 2. Timings: 10:30 AM – 01:00 PM 3. Timeline: 3 days – (2:30 hours in a day) 4. Venue: Virtual platform (Cisco Webex) Certificates were provided to each successful participant who has attended the conference with at least (80% of its duration for each day) for full three days. List of participants are given at Annexure I. 6 2. Programme & Sessions Schedule 2.1 Theme: Understanding Vulnerabilities – Protecting Children in All Context of Disasters & Emergencies Date: March 08, 2021 Timings: (10:30 AM – 01:00 PM) Subject/Topic Speaker/ Domain Expert Inaugural Session Welcome Address Prof. Santosh Kumar Head, GiDRR & Project Director, CCDRR, NIDM Opening Remarks Shri Sudarshan Suchi Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children Introductory Remarks Shri Tom White Chief, Emergency & Disaster Risk Reduction, UNICEF Keynote Address Maj. Gen. Manoj Kumar Bindal Executive Director, NIDM Special Address Shri P.C. Haldar (IPS Retd.) Former Director IB, President PPF Vote of Thanks Dr. Kumar Raka Programme Officer, CCDRR, NIDM Context Setting Session Impact of Disasters & Emergencies Prof. Santosh Kumar on Children : A Multi-hazard Head, GiDRR & Project Director, Contextual Approach CCDRR, NIDM Underlying Risk Factors for Children Shri Sarbjit Singh Sahota Emergency Specialist Disaster Risk Reduction Section, UNICEF 7 International Experience: Children’s Shri Salmon Jacob Vulnerability & Capacity. Where Do Head - Climate Change & DRR, World We Stand? Vision India Technical Session – I New Education Policy (NEP) Prof. Pradeep Mathur Promoting Learning in a Safe & Secure Media Academician Environment DM Act, National School Safety Shri Banku Bihari Sarkar Policy and other National & Programme Officer, Risk & Resilience, International Commitments towards UNICEF Safety & Security of Children Sustainable Development Shri Manish Thakre Goals (SDG), Sendai Framework for Head of Urban Policy & Programme, Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and Save the Children Climate Change: Gaps & Challenges 2.2 Theme: Developing Capacities – All Children are Safe, Learn and Thrive Date:

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