Violence against children in conflict zones reached an unprecedented peak in 2024, recording the highest number of grave violations since the United Nations began formal monitoring nearly 30 years ago, according to the latest Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict.
The report disclosed that 41,370 grave violations were verified, with 36,221 occurring in 2024 alone, a 25 per cent increase over 2023, which was itself a record year marked by a 21 per cent rise from 2022.
“Children continue to bear the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks,” the report stated, revealing that more than 4,500 children were killed and over 7,000 injured worldwide last year.
The number of child victims subjected to multiple violations also surged to 22,495, highlighting the worsening humanitarian toll on minors in war-affected regions.
The UN monitored and documented violations against children in 20 conflict zones globally, with the Palestinian territories topping the grim list. More than 8,500 serious violations were reported in Palestine, the majority of which were attributed to Israeli forces, including operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
The report confirmed the deaths of 1,259 Palestinian children in Gaza, while investigations are underway to verify an additional 4,470 child fatalities from 2024 in the embattled territory.
Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon were also noted, with over 500 children killed or injured in the country last year, according to the report.
This alarming escalation has prompted calls from humanitarian agencies for greater international intervention, accountability for grave violations, and enhanced protection measures for children caught in armed conflict.
The UN stressed the urgent need for all parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, and reiterated that attacks on civilians, especially children, must cease immediately.
The findings underline the deteriorating state of global child safety amid conflicts and raise serious concerns about the long-term psychological, physical, and social impacts on an entire generation of children growing up in war zones.