United Nations reports record violations against children in conflicts

The United Nations has reported a record number of grave violations against children in armed conflicts. In 2025, the UN documented 38,558 serious violations affecting 24,174 children, the highest figure since the dedicated mandate was established in 1996.

Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, noted a disturbing shift: for the first time, government forces are responsible for the majority of verified grave violations, alongside non-state armed groups. These violations include killings, mutilations, forced recruitment, sexual violence, abductions, and attacks on schools and hospitals.

According to UNICEF, explosive weapons were responsible for more than 70% of children killed or mutilated in 2025. The highest numbers of violations were recorded in the Palestinian territories, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. The UN also warned that emerging technologies, such as drones and artificial intelligence, are increasing risks by accelerating military operations and facilitating online recruitment by armed groups.