When conflict, disaster or displacement upend children’s lives, some young people face specific threats because of who they are.
In a crisis, LGBTQI+ children and youth can encounter stigma, exclusion and violence on top of the dangers all children face. Save the Children’s commitment to child protection is to keep every child safe from violence, and to embed inclusivity in aid so programs protect dignity, reflect local realities and are led with and for children.
The unique challenges LGBTQI+ youth face in emergencies
Emergencies separate children from caregivers, disrupt schools and health services, and expose girls and boys to violence and exploitation. In these conditions, young people who already endure discrimination can be pushed further to the margins. Evidence from Save the Children’s child protection work shows that, during disasters and conflict, children are at increased risk of sexual violence, early marriage, trafficking and other abuses – harms that can intersect with identity-based stigma.
On the Thailand–Myanmar border, for example, community research and testimonies from young people describe how many LGBTQI+ adolescents face non-acceptance at home and in their communities, with impacts on mental health and access to services.
“A lot of them are living under great pressure from their family members and community that do not accept LGBTQI+,” says 15-year-old Buay*. “Which has caused some of them to suffer from depression and mental health issues.”
What inclusive child protection really means
Inclusive child protection means designing and delivering programming so that all children, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, can be safe at home, at school and in their communities, including before, during and after crises. That involves integrating protection across sectors (health, education, water and sanitation, etc), maintaining safe access to school and play even in conflict-affected contexts, and strengthening national and local systems that prevent and respond to violence.
It also means recognising that “child protection is everyone’s business”: families, neighbours, educators and local authorities each have a role in noticing risks, challenging harmful norms and seeking help. Programs work best when they reflect this shared responsibility and are rooted in local structures that children trust.
Real stories of strength, resilience and advocacy
Buay is part of a youth-led group supported by Save the Children that creates practical, community-based advocacy. The group develops leaflets and posters, visits households door-to-door, and holds conversations to dispel myths and build understanding – work that is especially important where LGBTQI+ children are invisible in research and services. “I’m proud of what I’ve done, becoming a voice for other children and youth who might be facing discrimination and hatred just because of who they are,” Buay says.
Youth leadership is central to resilience. By supporting adolescents to share their experiences and propose solutions, programs surface the practical changes that make daily life safer – like respectful communication from adults, welcoming school environments, and clear referral pathways when abuse or bullying occurs. These insights then inform local partners and services.
How Save the Children is creating safer spaces for all
In Thailand, Save the Children’s HEARTS initiative focuses on safe, inclusive programming for children who face discrimination, including LGBTQI+ youth. The project strengthens the voices and capacity of young leaders, improves child-friendly program design, raises community awareness, and provides grants so youth groups can run their own campaigns and projects to protect rights. The aim is simple: a safe and inclusive environment where all children can live free from fear and discrimination.
This mirrors our broader approach to child protection in humanitarian settings: establish safe spaces where children can play, learn and access emotional support; ensure safe routes back to school; and link families to protection services – because protection is most effective when education, psychosocial support and safeguarding work together.
Working with communities to foster acceptance
Lasting change comes when families, elders, teachers and local leaders are part of the solution. On the Thailand–Myanmar border, youth advocates like Buay collaborate with households and communities regardless of their level of acceptance, using accessible information and respectful dialogue to build understanding. Campaigns align with cultural context while elevating children’s right to safety and inclusion. Community-based outreach is not an add-on – it is the foundation for safety in places where services may be limited and stigma can be deeply felt.
This community partnership approach is consistent with Save the Children’s child protection practice globally, which works with governments to strengthen systems while ensuring children can safely go to school and play – especially in areas affected by disaster or conflict. By anchoring efforts in local structures and norms, programs become more trusted and more protective for all children, including LGBTQI+ youth.
Building a more inclusive humanitarian response
To make inclusivity in aid real for LGBTQI+ children in emergencies, responders should: engage adolescents as co-designers of programs; train staff and volunteers in non-discrimination and safe referral; ensure safe access to school and play; and link community outreach with formal protection services. Save the Children’s practice emphasises integrating protection into every response and advocating for policies that never tolerate violence against children.
As Buay puts it, public awareness moments like Pride Month help the broader community understand what young people are fighting for – and why inclusive education from early years matters: “I hope that education about gender diversity will start from the very beginning of everyone’s life, in schools.”
Youth-led advocacy, paired with child-safe programming, can shift attitudes and open doors to services that protect LGBTQI+ adolescents before, during and after crisis.
Make your impact today by supporting inclusive child protection programs.