Why is violence against children increasing in armed conflicts with one death every two hours?

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This article contains references to abuses against children.

Violence against children caught up in wars and conflicts hit “unprecedented levels” last year, according to a new United Nations report.

The Children and Armed Conflict report shows that with a 25 per cent increase, there were 41,370 grave violations incidents in 2024 — the highest number reported since the inception of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate almost 30 years ago.

“Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, notably the Gaza Strip, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti” experienced the highest numbers.

This ‘should keep all of us awake at night’

The UN has identified six grave violations against children in conflict, which it monitors and reports on: killing and maiming, recruitment or use of children as soldiers, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools or hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.

Most of these violations rose in 2024, including attacks on schools (44 per cent), and rape and other forms of sexual violence (34 per cent).

In total, 22,495 children were affected by recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and abduction.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, said this “should keep all of us awake at night”.

“This must serve as a wake-up call. We are at the point of no return.”

4,676 children died in armed conflicts

According to the report, 4,676 children lost their lives in armed conflicts in 2024, equivalent to one child being killed every two hours.

It also shows that 7,291 children were maimed, 7,402 were recruited and used in armed conflicts, 4,573 were abducted, and 1,982 were victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence.

There were also 2,374 attacks on schools and hospitals, mostly in “Ukraine, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Haiti, Afghanistan and Myanmar”.

What are the reasons?

According to the report, in 2024, warfare strategies “included targeted attacks on children, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and the systematic exploitation of children in hostilities and for military and sexual purposes”.

“Heavy bombardments, missile strikes, and the relentless use of explosive weapons in urban areas have turned homes and neighbourhoods into battlefields,” Gamba said.

She said that the “widespread deployment of landmines” had “dire consequences” for children.

“These weapons alone account for one-quarter of all those killed or injured in hostilities,” she said.

The report has suggested several measures to prevent grave violations against children, which include respecting international law, protecting hospitals, and refraining from using explosive weapons in populated areas.

“As the best way to protect children from hostilities is to eliminate the push and pull factors leading to their involvement in armed conflict,” it stated