Building on the Rainbow

Abstract

Children’s participation in decision making is not a luxury, it is a protective measure²  (Warrington y Larkins, 2019). Children and adolescents have shown many times that they make valuable contributions in responding to disasters and risk reduction in situations such as earthquakes, floods or fires, they can and do make invaluable contributions to disaster response and risk reduction. In the face of the challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic, this collaboration presents the findings of the first phase (13-20 April 2020) of an online survey. The informants, 95 professionals from 16 different sectors, were contacted through participation and children's rights networks in 20 European countries, including Spain. A focused online discussion was also held with experts from 16 European countries to verify the data collected and gather additional information. From the links provided in the answers to the forms, other sources generated directly by children and adolescents were accessed. The data collected presents evidence on the practices and experiences of children and adolescents as well as on the impact and shape of responses to the Covid_19 pandemic and the participation of children and adolescents in them in 20 European countries.