UN’s first global policy framework on the protection of children from climate change
Recently the United Nations has released the first global policy framework on the protection of children being displaced due to climate change.
This policy framework containing guidelines has been released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organizations.
The framework is titled ‘The Guiding Principles for Children on the Move in the Context of Climate Change’.
Guiding Principles for Displaced Children: It is a set of nine principles-
- Political: Accountability, Participation, Nationality,
- Individual: family unity, discrimination, security, access to services
- Broad Principle: Rights Based Approach in the Best Interest of Children
These principles address the particular vulnerability of children who have been displaced by climate change.
These guidelines cover both internal as well as cross-border migration.
These guidelines provide a basis for national and local governments, international organizations and civil society groups to formulate policies that protect the rights of children.
Climate change and children
- There are one billion children living in 33 countries of the world who are most at risk of the effects of climate change.
- In the year 2020 alone, nearly one crore children were displaced due to weather related events.
- Such children have to face many dangers. Such as abuse, smuggling, exploitation etc.
- Environmental factors are partly responsible for 36% of all deaths in children aged 10-14 years.
- In the year 2019, 14% of the total migrants were children.
Source – The Hindu
