Violence Against Children in Armed Conflicts Reaches Extreme Levels, Says UN

The UN's 2023 report reveals extreme levels of violence against children in conflict zones, including Israel, Sudan, and Ukraine. The report highlights a 21% increase in grave violations and the first-time listing of Israeli forces, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants on the blacklist for violating children's rights.

The 2023 UN report sheds light on the harrowing rise of violence against children caught in conflicts, marking unprecedented levels of fatalities and injuries. From Israel and the Palestinian territories to Sudan and Ukraine, children have borne the brunt of escalating hostilities.

According to the report, there has been a 'shocking 21 percent increase' in grave violations involving children under 18 across various conflict zones, including Congo, Burkina Faso, Somalia, and Syria. The report notably blacklists Israeli forces for the first time, alongside Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants, for their roles in child casualties and attacks on schools and hospitals.

The intense retaliatory strikes by Israel in response to Hamas' October 7 surprise attack have led to a remarkable 155 percent spike in grave violations against children in Gaza, with the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas being a significant contributor.

Russian forces remain on the blacklist for their ongoing violations in Ukraine, marking the second year of their inclusion for child casualties and assaults on educational and healthcare facilities.

In Sudan, the brutal conflict between rival military factions has precipitated an alarming 480 percent rise in child-related grave violations. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have been implicated for egregious acts, including the recruitment of child soldiers and sexual violence.

The civil war in Myanmar also reflects a troubling 123 percent surge in such violations, with multiple armed groups being cited for their destructive actions against children.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasizes that the surge in violations stems from the evolving and intensifying nature of armed conflicts, the proliferation of explosive weaponry in urban zones, deliberate attacks on civilians, and the disregard for international law.