Children in armed conflict: UN reports 25% jump in violations in 2024

Key Concepts:

• Grave Violations: Killing and maiming, recruitment into conflict, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, denial of humanitarian access.
• UN Monitoring: Tracking and verifying grave violations against children in conflict zones.
• Perpetrators: State armed forces and non-state armed groups.
• Palestinian Territory: Region with the highest number of grave violations.
• Myanmar: Country with significant grave violations and military use of schools and hospitals.

Main Findings of the UN Report

The UN report reveals an alarming surge in grave violations against children in conflict zones in 2023. The report verified over 41,000 cases of grave violations, marking a 25% increase compared to 2023. This is the highest number recorded since the UN began monitoring these violations nearly 30 years ago. 2024 is the third consecutive year of alarming figures.

Types of Grave Violations

The report categorizes grave violations as:

• Killing and maiming of children.
• Recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
• Rape and other forms of sexual violence against children.
• Abduction of children.
• Attacks on schools and hospitals.
• Denial of humanitarian access to children.

Geographic Distribution of Violations

• Palestinian Territory: Recorded the highest number of serious violations, exceeding 8,500. The vast majority of these violations are attributed to Israeli forces. Over 4,800 cases were specifically in Gaza.
• Other Affected Regions: Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti also experienced significant numbers of grave violations.
• Myanmar: Verified more than 2,100 instances of grave violations, with an additional 1,200 cases still under review. Key offenses include killing.

Perpetrators of Violations

• Non-State Armed Groups: Responsible for nearly half of the verified cases.
• Government Forces: Identified as the primary perpetrators of killings and maiming, attacks on civilian infrastructure (schools and hospitals), and humanitarian blockades.

Specific Case: Myanmar

Myanmar is highlighted as a country with severe violations, including:

• High rates of killing of children.
• Extensive use of schools and hospitals for military purposes.
• More than 4,500 verified killings and 7,000 injured in conflict zones.

United Nations' Warning

The United Nations warns that children will continue to suffer from hostilities and indiscriminate attacks in conflict zones.

Conclusion

The UN report paints a grim picture of the escalating violence against children in conflict zones. The significant increase in grave violations, particularly in the Palestinian territory and Myanmar, underscores the urgent need for increased protection of children in armed conflict and accountability for perpetrators. The UN emphasizes that without concerted efforts, children will continue to bear the brunt of these hostilities.