A/HRC/11/L.11
page 64
IX. CARE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
A. Application of the Guidelines
152. The present Guidelines should continue to apply in situations of emergency arising from
natural and man-made disasters, including international and non-international armed conflicts, as
well as foreign occupation. Individuals and organizations wishing to work on behalf of children
without parental care in emergency situations are strongly encouraged to operate in accordance
with the Guidelines.
153. In such circumstances, the State or de facto authorities in the region concerned, the
international community and all local, national, foreign and international agencies providing or
intending to provide child-focused services should pay special attention:
(a)
To ensure that all entities and persons involved in responding to unaccompanied or
separated children are sufficiently experienced, trained, resourceful and equipped to do so in an
appropriate manner;
(b)
To develop, as necessary, temporary and long-term family-based care;
(c)
To use residential care only as a temporary measure until family-based care can be
developed;
(d)
To prohibit the establishment of new residential facilities structured to provide
simultaneous care to large groups of children on a permanent or long-term basis;
(e)
To prevent the cross-border displacement of children, except under the circumstances
described in paragraph 159 below;
(f)
To make cooperation with family tracing and reintegration efforts mandatory.
Preventing separation
154. Organizations and authorities should make every effort to prevent the separation of
children from their parents or primary caregivers, unless the best interests of the child so require,
and ensure that their actions do not inadvertently encourage family separation by providing
services and benefits to children alone rather than to families.
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