Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression / United Nations Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict 2026
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Every day, children living in wars across the globe are facing unspeakable horrors: they are not safe sleeping in their homes or playing outside, learning in school or seeking medical care at hospitals. From killing and maiming, abduction and sexual violence, to attacks on education and health facilities, and the denial of the humanitarian assistance that they desperately need, children are being caught in the crosshairs of warring parties at a staggering scale.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict reveals that violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with a 25 per cent increase in grave violations compared with the previous year. The United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against children, affecting 22,495 children worldwide. The highest numbers of grave violations were verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (8,554), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4,043), Somalia (2,568), Nigeria (2,436) and Haiti (2,269). Killing and maiming remained the most prevalent grave violation, affecting 11,967 children. Most casualties resulted from explosive ordnance, including explosive remnants of war, mines and improvised explosive devices, as well as crossfire and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.Thousands of children were recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups, often in combat or support roles. The sharp rise in cases involving recruitment, abduction and other overlapping violations highlights the growing risks faced by children in conflict settings. The United Nations verified a significant rise in conflict-related sexual violence against children, including a dramatic increase in gang rape. Girls were disproportionately affected, while boys were also subjected to sexual violence. The violation remains severely underreported because of stigma, fear of reprisals, lack of services and concerns for survivors’ safety.Denial of humanitarian access reached alarming levels in 2024. Parties to conflict attacked aid convoys and humanitarian personnel, imposed movement restrictions, interfered with relief operations and created administrative barriers, leaving children without access to healthcare, education, protection and other essential services. The United Nations verified nearly 2,000 attacks on schools and hospitals in 2024, making these essential civilian facilities increasingly unsafe for children. Attacks on schools and hospitals, as well as their military use, continued to disrupt children’s access to education and healthcare. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and attacks on protected facilities further increased children’s vulnerability in conflict-affected areas. Ending and preventing grave violations against children remains central to the United Nations mandate on children and armed conflict. Protecting children requires addressing the root causes of conflict, ensuring accountability for violations and investing in child protection, recovery and reintegration efforts.
Every day, children living in wars across the globe are facing unspeakable horrors: they are not safe sleeping in their homes or playing outside, learning in school or seeking medical care at hospitals. From killing and maiming, abduction and sexual violence, to attacks on education and health facilities, and the denial of the humanitarian assistance that they desperately need, children are being caught in the crosshairs of warring parties at a staggering scale.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict reveals that violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with a 25 per cent increase in grave violations compared with the previous year. The United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against children, affecting 22,495 children worldwide. The highest numbers of grave violations were verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (8,554), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4,043), Somalia (2,568), Nigeria (2,436) and Haiti (2,269). Killing and maiming remained the most prevalent grave violation, affecting 11,967 children. Most casualties resulted from explosive ordnance, including explosive remnants of war, mines and improvised explosive devices, as well as crossfire and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.Thousands of children were recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups, often in combat or support roles. The sharp rise in cases involving recruitment, abduction and other overlapping violations highlights the growing risks faced by children in conflict settings. The United Nations verified a significant rise in conflict-related sexual violence against children, including a dramatic increase in gang rape. Girls were disproportionately affected, while boys were also subjected to sexual violence. The violation remains severely underreported because of stigma, fear of reprisals, lack of services and concerns for survivors’ safety.Denial of humanitarian access reached alarming levels in 2024. Parties to conflict attacked aid convoys and humanitarian personnel, imposed movement restrictions, interfered with relief operations and created administrative barriers, leaving children without access to healthcare, education, protection and other essential services. The United Nations verified nearly 2,000 attacks on schools and hospitals in 2024, making these essential civilian facilities increasingly unsafe for children. Attacks on schools and hospitals, as well as their military use, continued to disrupt children’s access to education and healthcare. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and attacks on protected facilities further increased children’s vulnerability in conflict-affected areas. Ending and preventing grave violations against children remains central to the United Nations mandate on children and armed conflict. Protecting children requires addressing the root causes of conflict, ensuring accountability for violations and investing in child protection, recovery and reintegration efforts.
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Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
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