Renewed agreement aims to protect, empower, and support children displaced by climate-related events.
Baku, 12 November 2024 – At COP29, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF renewed a four-year agreement aimed at protecting, empowering, and supporting children displaced by climate-related events. This partnership builds on a prior collaboration launched in 2022, focusing on the welfare and resilience of children uprooted by extreme climate events.
With a record 120 million people displaced globally at the end of 2023, children constitute a significant yet often overlooked portion. “Climate change drives millions of children from their homes each year,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. The partnership seeks to ensure that displaced children have access to essential services and protection before, during, and after their displacement.
The renewed agreement emphasizes the link between child welfare and climate action. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, highlighted that “children affected by climate shocks, from the Sahel to Southeast Asia, hold valuable insights for addressing climate challenges. They must be partners in shaping solutions.”
Under this framework, IOM and UNICEF will advocate for policies and funding that recognize climate-displaced children’s rights, including their inclusion in education, health, and protection services. The organizations will also work on solutions to address internal displacement, which has left over 75 million people, including millions of children, uprooted and vulnerable.
By aligning with the Paris Agreement and the Secretary General’s Agenda on Internal Displacement, IOM and UNICEF call on governments and partners to join their efforts in safeguarding the future of climate-affected children worldwide.
