Secure Kids – Child participation in civil security

Strengthening the sustainability and impact of child participation mechanisms in decision-making processes for building safe and secure societies

About

SECURE KIDS aims to contribute to sustainable and inclusive mechanisms for child participation in planning, implementation and follow up of national and local measures for building resilient societies that are equipped to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions.

More specifically, the project has the following four objectives:
1. Developing and strengthening child participation mechanisms in disaster risk reduction activities.
2. Developing strategic guidance for the implementation of inclusive crisis communication considering children’s needs, concerns, facilitating factors and barriers in crisis communication.
3. Equipping relevant actors and children with the knowledge, attitudes, skills and confidence to ensure child participation in disaster risk reduction activities.
4. Building awareness of children’s rights and their role in disaster risk reduction activities among children, policymakers, and professionals working with children.

The project targets children, both as beneficiaries of the action and as key actors, to be actively involved throughout all project phases, from design and implementation to impact monitoring and evaluation.

Background

In recent years, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) has been affected by many disasters and crises of increased interconnectedness and complexity. When combined, they present a severe challenge for the region.

These risks include disasters caused by climate change, pandemics, and other threats. Disasters greatly affect children, and their exposure is expected to increase in the coming years. Children are especially vulnerable when exposed to disasters for various reasons, which can result in negative psychological and physical impacts. The ’European Forum for Disaster Risks Reduction: Road map 2021-2030’ points out that inclusive systems and collaboration with representatives of vulnerable groups, such as children, can help mitigate the impact of hazardous events, transform resilience-building during recovery and reduce the marginalisation and disproportionate impact on high-risk groups.

Partners

CBSS Civil Protection – coordinator
CBSS Children at Risk
Creative Association for Youth TREPES
Liepaja Municipal Police
Union of Baltic Cities (UBC)

Duration

2023-2025

Contact

Vineta Polatside, Senior Adviser for Safe and Secure Region Priority at the Council of the Baltic Sea States

Phone: +46 70 232 04 94

Email: [email protected]

Funding

Secure kids is Co-funded by DG Justice European Commission and project partners.