Preventing Separation

Children are highly vulnerable to separation from their parents in conflict, displacement or disasters. Families may flee for their safety and lose loved ones in the chaos, parents may leave their children or send them away for their own safety or in the belief they will be better cared for by others. Children may lose their parents to disease, injury or death, while others may be abducted by armed forces, or trafficked.

Relevant authorities and organizations should provide coordinated action to reduce separation and endeavour to keep children as close to their parents, relatives and community as possible. When the possibility of separation can be anticipated, such as when an attack is possible or a movement of a population is anticipated or planned, community education should be undertaken. Families should be alerted to the risks of separation and encouraged to take precautions. Such precautions may include ensuring their child has undergone birth registration, teaching children their full names and addresses, encouraging children to wear name tags at all times, agreeing on a meeting place in case of separation, and making sure children are accompanied by a known adult whenever possible. This is particularly important when there are high risks of sexual violence, abduction and trafficking. In circumstances where the evacuation of a population is necessary, family groups should be moved together. Children should not be evacuated on their own.

Agencies should endeavour to avoid unnecessary separation by ensuring that households have adequate basic provisions. All services such as food aid, health services, and emergency care should be reviewed to ensure they do not encourage the separation or abandonment of children.

This section includes information on the causes of separation, how to assess a situation, and guidance on community messages and practices to reduce the incidence of children becoming separated.

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IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings

Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 31 Dec 2006

Guidelines for a multi-sectoral response to the most urgent mental health and psychosocial issues in emergency situations.

Committee on the Rights of the Child Day of General Discussion: Children without Parental Care

Committee on the Rights of the Child, 17 Mar 2006

The Committee on the Rights of the Child held a day of general discussion on 16 September on “Children without parental care”.

A Sense of Belonging: Case studies in positive care options for children

David Tolfree, 2006

Save the Children's "First Resort" series focuses on the needs and rights of children who, for a wide variety of reasons, are lacking adequate parental care. This third paper in the First Resort series presents practical examples of the range of options available to policy-makers, practitioners and others with responsibilities for the care and protection of children without adequate parental care.

Protecting Children in Emergencies

Save the Children, 2005

A twelve page policy brief that outlines Save the Children's position on the type of protection children need in an emergency. Contains some statistical information.

Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies

United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005

Comprehensive guidelines for dealing with the planning, establishment, and coordination of multisectoral interventions to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

The Lost Ones: Emergency Care And Family Tracing for Children from Birth to Five Years

Marie de la Soudière, Jan Williamson, and Jacqueline Botte, 2005

A manual primarily concerned with the prevention of separation of children during emergencies. It provides a field-oriented guide to solve problems specific to emergency care and tracing and family reunification of babies and children five years and younger.

Indonesian Government Policy on Separated Children, Unaccompanied Children and Children left with One Parent in Emergency Situations

Bachtiar Chamsyah, 2005

Indonesian policy paper on the practice principles for separated and unaccompanied children in an emergency, including guidance on short and long-term care arrangements, tracing, and family reunification

Protecting Children During Emergencies in Nigeria: A Toolkit for Trainers

Emily Delap, Fred Kasozi and Denis Onoise, 2005

A comprehensive training toolkit for organizations and individuals who are directly involved in child protection and welfare during emergencies. Covers key topics related to children in emergencies, and includes learning points, classroom and field exercises, suggested itineraries and handouts.

Facing the Crisis: Supporting Children Through Positive Care Options

David Tolfree, 2005

A paper with guidelines for keeping children with families and providing proper care and protection for them. It provides examples and plans for those interested in planning care for separated children.

Fighting Back: Child and Community-led Strategies to Avoid Children's Recruitment into Armed Forces and Groups in West Africa

Emily Delap, 2005

A research study which explores strategies used by children, families and communities to prevent child recruitment into armed forces.