Youth Are Change Agents in Reducing The Impacts of Disasters

Youth are a vital part of our communities. They offer a fresh perspective as they understand and recognize that the actions of individuals and communities can help reduce the impact of disasters and improve resilience.

Today’s youth want to participate fully and effectively in their communities, and to be included in important policy decisions. There has been a more concerted effort to reshape youth activism, including their awareness of and participation in disaster risk reduction. More and more, youth are being recognized as change agents that can provide fresh perspectives and creative ideas on policy discussions impacting their communities and countries.

This perspective is acknowledged across borders. In 2015, 186 countries endorsed the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Its goal is to improve the response to disaster risk and to substantially reduce harm to livelihoods as well as to the social, economic and cultural spheres. A guiding principle of the Sendai Framework is to engage youth in disaster risk reduction by calling on societies to promote youth leadership and to empower young people by bolstering their inclusion in governance and decision-making.

An example of how youth are being engaged in discussions surrounding disaster risk reduction is the United Nations Fifth Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas (www.eird.org/rp17/), Held in Montreal, Quebec from March 7 to9, 2017,the meeting will bring together key stakeholders. These include public officials, government and non-governmental organizations, private sector leaders, academics and Indigenous representatives committed to improving national and international coordination of emergency management.

It will also include activities specifically targeting youth. These activities recognize that youth can contribute to advancing discussions about innovative and non-traditional ways government, organizations, the private sector and individuals can reduce the risks and impacts of disasters.

SOURCE: www.newscanada.com