Quick Guide: Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents in Emergency Situations is a practical tool to guide humanitarian responses with a focus on rights, substantive equality, and community protection. Developed within the framework of the institutional strategy #NiñezPrimero of Tejiendo Redes Infancia en América Latina y el Caribe (Weaving Networks for Childhood in Latin America and the Caribbean), as part of Infancia Latina, the regional observatory for the rights of children and adolescents, the publication offers clear criteria for action before, during, and after an emergency, placing at the center the best interests of the child, family unity, participation, protection from violence, accessibility, gender equality, and accountability.
The guide provides essential recommendations on the first 72 hours, emotional and psychosocial support, separated children and family reunification, specialized care for children and adolescents with disabilities, community organization, protection services, and ethical communication in the face of the infodemic. Its purpose is to support families, communities, social organizations, humanitarian teams, communicators, and public institutions in making swift decisions while upholding the dignity, identity, privacy, and rights of children and adolescents.
More than a technical document, this guide proposes a path of collective action: protecting lives, preventing further damage, strengthening community networks and ensuring that, even in contexts of disaster, crisis or conflict, children are the priority.
