Protection of children in emergency situations

Introduction. The life of any person begins at the moment of birth and is largely shaped during their childhood. After this stage of life, the younger generations fully integrate into society. Once they become part of the whole, they determine the vitality of the entire society and set the direction of its development for decades to come. The circumstances that a person encounters during their childhood, as well as the experiences and lessons they learn, shape their personality, determine their views on the world, and instill in them a desire to create or distance themselves from society. Thus, the state of childhood affects not only the future of the individual, but also the future of nations and humanity as a whole. One of the dangers is emergencies. Whether they are man-made or natural, they pose a threat to children’s lives and health. New circumstances have emerged due to armed conflicts, Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and the attempts of unfriendly forces to encroach on Russia’s national security, including through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and the threat of using other types of weapons. As a result, situations arise that require prompt decisions to ensure the full range of personal, social, and economic rights and freedoms for minors (children), especially those who have been left without parental care. The current Federal Law “On Protection of the Population and Territories from Natural and Man-Made Emergencies”, hereinafter referred to as the Law, does not provide for children as a special subject of protection in emergency situations and their consequences, which creates legal barriers in the activities of state authorities and hinders the full implementation of children’s rights. The purpose of this study is to develop universal legal regulations for protecting children’s rights, regardless of the reasons for the introduction of emergencies, territorial boarders, and possible consequences. Theoretical analysis. Scientific research in the field of social relations under consideration concludes that it is necessary to specify the definition of the concept of “emergency situation,” as well as to conduct additional research on issues related to the legal regulation of the protection of children’s rights in emergency situations. The main focus of scientific research is on general issues related to the protection of children’s rights in emergency situations, but it does not fully explore the mechanism of protection. The main body of scientific research reveals the elements of the mechanism for protecting children from the perspective of medical law, social protection of the population in emergency situations, provision of psychological assistance, the activities of law enforcement agencies in these situations, as well as the role of international organizations, whose activities cannot currently be considered effective. From the perspective of the constitutional law of the Russian Federation, these social relations have not been sufficiently examined. Empirical analysis. Recently, the issue of child protection has been the subject of speeches by the President of the Russian Federation and strategic documents on Russia’s development. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights under the President of the Russian Federation has received appeals regarding the protection of minors’ rights, including those related to the consequences of man-made accidents, natural disasters, and attacks on Russia’s national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Results. The conducted theoretical research and the results of law enforcement practice demonstrate that there is a need for a comprehensive approach to the relations under consideration. It is necessary to amend the Federal Law “On Protecting the Population and Territories from Natural and Man-Made Emergencies” and include children as a separate subject of legal protection in emergency situations, as well as to specify the concept of “emergency situation” itself.

children, minors, children’s rights, emergency situation, state of emergency, special military operation, drone attacks, public authorities, protection of children’s rights