A/HRC/RES/37/20
23.
Encourages States to contemplate non-formal learning in the context of
emergency response plans when formal education is not possible in order to ensure that
education continues to be delivered;
24.
Encourages States, local authorities, the United Nations system, regional
organizations and civil society, and invites donors and other assisting countries, to address
the vulnerabilities and capacities of children, particularly girls, through gender-responsive
programming, including with regard to sexual and reproductive health and the means to
prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, various forms of exploitation and
neglect, and harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage, during
emergencies and in post-disaster environments, and through the allocation of resources in
their disaster risk reduction, response and recovery efforts, in coordination with the
Governments of affected countries;
25.
Calls upon States to promote the meaningful participation of and active
consultation with children and adolescents affected by humanitarian situations on all issues
affecting them, and to raise awareness about their rights through safe spaces, forums and
support networks that provide children with information, life skills and leadership skills
training and opportunities to be empowered, to express themselves and to participate
meaningfully, consistent with their evolving capacities, during and after an emergency;
26.
Also calls upon States to ensure that the best interests of the child are a
primary consideration in all actions concerning children, and recommends that States, in
cooperation with international organizations and civil society, and the private sector as
appropriate:
(a)
Conduct child-inclusive planning and assess child protection needs and
vulnerabilities when making age-, disability- and gender-sensitive provisions for
emergency preparedness, humanitarian response and assistance;
(b)
Promote child-centred innovation, empowering children to be agents of
positive change and building their resilience through the development of innovative childcentred participatory approaches, encourage children to be involved in their own protection,
and support them in developing self-protective skills;
(c)
Fully consider the needs of children affected by armed conflict, including
with regard to rehabilitation and reintegration;
(d)
Mainstream prevention of and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse,
child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and violence against children,
including sexual and gender-based violence, into emergency and humanitarian responses,
and address the underlying factors that make children, especially girls, particularly
vulnerable to these practices;
(e)
Work to prevent family separation in the context of humanitarian situations
and ensure without delay family tracing and reunification where it occurs, allocate
sufficient resources to family reunification procedures to ensure the operational capacity to
carry out evaluations in a reasonable time frame and to reduce the overall length of the
process, and provide alternative care for children deprived of parental care or who are at
risk of being so, taking into account the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children;
(f)
Provide age-appropriate and gender-sensitive mental health and psychosocial
support tailored to children in the context of humanitarian situations, based on respect for
human rights and for their dignity, integrity and autonomy, to prevent and address distress,
fear and trauma and to help to build their resilience; in particular, where a child has been a
victim of violence or exploitation or has acquired an injury or disability, adopt durable
solutions to ensure that the child has access to long-term care and protection, including
health care, psychosocial support, social services and education, including human rights
education, vocational training and life skills education;
(g)
Increase and improve financing for education in emergencies so that
children’s right to education is recognized as a critical part of humanitarian responses;
(h)
Create quality and meaningful child-friendly and gender-sensitive spaces to
provide nurturing environments where children have access to play, recreation, leisure and
5