UN Report: Grave Violations Against Children Reach 'Shocking' Levels, Rising 25%

A UN report released on Tuesday announced that grave violations against children last year reached shocking levels, rising by 25% compared to the previous year. The report pointed to a failure to respect international humanitarian law, a disregard for the protection of children, and worsening humanitarian crises.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, presented the recent report to the General Assembly, which highlighted the impact of hostilities on children.

The report showed that the highest number of verified grave violations occurred in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti. It indicated that the largest percentage increases in violations were in Lebanon, Mozambique, Haiti, Ethiopia, and Ukraine.

The UN report identified the ongoing conflicts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Myanmar, and Burkina Faso as "the deadliest for children." It noted that these violations included killing and maiming, the denial of humanitarian access, and the recruitment and use of children.

It warned that the scope of denying humanitarian access has expanded to alarming levels. In 2024, the highest number of humanitarian workers, including UN personnel, were killed, while an unprecedented number of children were deprived of access to essential and humanitarian services.

The report also highlighted the Special Representative's ongoing engagement with parties to build partnerships and eliminate and prevent grave violations. It stressed the urgent need to address the situations of children affected by armed conflict and the necessity to maintain and enhance resources for their protection at a time when humanitarian and protection needs for children are acutely increasing.