Grave Violations Against Children in Armed Conflict Reach Unprecedented Levels amidst Shrinking Humanitarian Funding
Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Monday, 26 January 2026
Click here for the full report
Summary
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict released a report to the Human Rights Council revealing that grave violations against children reached unprecedented levels for the third consecutive year in 2024, with similar patterns continuing in 2025.
The UN verified 41,370 grave violations against 22,495 children in 2024, a 25 percent surge over 2023. The highest numbers occurred in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti. Killing and maiming affected 11,967 children, primarily through explosive weapons and indiscriminate attacks, with children also dying from starvation in Gaza and Sudan.
Denial of humanitarian access, recruitment and use, abduction, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals all reached alarming levels.
The global decrease in humanitarian funding has severely reduced UN capacity to verify and respond to violations.
As the mandate approaches its 30th anniversary, the Special Representative urges States to implement international legal instruments, endorse protection declarations, and provide sustained funding for child protection.
Major Points
- 2024 violations: 41,370 grave violations against 22,495 children (25% increase)
- Top five countries by total violations:
- Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory - 8,554 violations
- Democratic Republic of the Congo - 4,043 violations
- Somalia - 2,568 violations
- Nigeria - 2,436 violations
- Haiti - 2,269 violations
- Six grave violations documented: killing/maiming, denial of humanitarian access, recruitment/use, abduction, sexual violence, attacks on schools/hospitals
- Children dying from starvation in Gaza and Sudan
- Explosive weapons as primary cause of killing and maiming
- Global humanitarian funding cuts reducing UN verification capacity
- Progress in DRC, Somalia, Iraq, Nigeria, Ukraine, South Sudan
- Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines removed from Secretary-General's reporting
Quotes
"Each grave violation against children is a son, a daughter, a niece, a grandson, stripped of a fundamental right. Children must never be targeted or abused."
"As we approach the 30th anniversary of the CAAC mandate, we must be resolute in changing the reality for children affected by armed conflict. Protecting children's rights requires renewed determination and collective action."
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