"Girls, boys and Young people are part of decision-making process. Children have done the least to bring about climate change but will be the most affected by it – their voices must be heard. Provide space for active participation of girls, boys and young people in planning and decision making processes related to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation at the community level. Engage children and youth as partners rather than recipient of services and decisions related to climate crisis and ensuring all data are segregated by gender, age and disabilities"

The DRR working group for the Asia Pacific region together with partners - APCSS, World Vision International, UNICEF, Save the children have prepared a report on the children and youth across Asia-PAcific. The data is the result of a survey of nearly a snapshot of children and youth in twelve countries across Asia-Pacific. The twelve countries involved in the report development were Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Solomon Islands. The “Guardians of the Planet” is the result of both online survey and face-to-face group discussions.

The results of the report aims to inform the inclusion in development of DRR policy, of children and youth voices. The report is in line with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), and its vision to recognize children and youth as agents of change, if given the opportunity to raise their voices.

The launch of the Children and Youth Report is scheduled on Wednesday, 16th September 2020, from 1200, Thailand Standard Time (THA). The main focus of these is to put forward the findings of the report to the government and regional bodies to formulate a children and youth stakeholder action statement for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).