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Business Standard
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Violence against children in conflict at unprecedented levels in 2024: UN
The UN chief said, Children bore the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks, were affected by disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements and by deepening humanitarian crises AP United Nations Violence against children caught in multiple and escalating conflicts reached unprecedented levels" last year, with the highest number of violations in Gaza and the West Bank, Congo, Somalia, Nigeria and Haiti, according to a United Nations report released late Thursday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' annual report on Children in Armed Conflict detailed a staggering 25% surge in grave violations against children under the age of 18 from 2023, when the number of such violations rose by 21%. In 2024, the UN chief said, Children bore the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks, and were affected by the disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements and by deepening humanitarian crisis. He cited warfare strategies that included attacks on children, the deployment of increasingly destructive and explosive weapons in populated areas, and the systematic exploitation of children for combat. Guterres said the United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against children 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed earlier but verified last year. The violations include killing, maiming, recruiting and abducting children, sexual violence against them, attacking schools and hospitals and denying youngsters access to humanitarian aid. The UN kept Israeli forces on its blacklist of countries that violate children's rights for a second year, citing 7,188 verified grave violations by its military, including the killing of 1,259 Palestinian children and injury to 941 others in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported much higher figures, but the U.N. has strict criteria and said its process of verification is ongoing. Guterres said he is appalled by the intensity of grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, and deeply alarmed by the increase in violations, especially the high number of children killed by Israeli forces. He reiterated his calls on Israel to abide by international law requiring special protections for children, protection for schools and hospitals, and compliance with the requirement that attacks distinguish between combatants and civilians and avoid excessive harm to civilians. The UN also kept Hamas, whose surprise October 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on the blacklist. Israel's UN Mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Congo, the UN reported 4,043 verified grave violations against 3,418 children last year. In Somalia, it reported 2,568 violations against 1,992 children. In Nigeria, 2,436 grave violations were reported against 1,037 children. And in Haiti, the U.N. reported 2,269 verified grave violations against 1,373 children. In the ongoing war following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations kept the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups on its blacklist for a third year. The secretary-general expressed deep concern at the sharp increase in grave violations against children in Ukraine 1,914 against 673 children. He expressed alarm at the violations by Russian forces and their affiliates, singling out their verified killing of 94 Ukrainian children, injury to 577 others, and 559 attacks on schools and 303 on hospitals. In Haiti, the UN put a gang, the Viv Ansanm coalition, on the blacklist for the first time. Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Mose in July 2021. They are now estimated to control 85 per cent of the capital and have moved into surrounding areas. In May, the U.S. designated the powerful coalition representing more than a dozen gangs, whose name means Living Together, as a foreign terrorist organization. Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep alarm at the surge in violations, especially incidents of gang recruitment and use, sexual violence, abduction and denial of humanitarian aid. The report said sexual violence jumped by 35 per cent in 2024, including a dramatic increase in the number of gang rapes, but stressed that the numbers are vastly underreported. Girls were abducted for the purpose of recruitment and use, and for sexual slavery, the U.N. chief said. In Haiti, the U.N. reported sexual violence against 566 children, 523 of them girls, and attributed 411 to the Viv Ansanm gang. In Congo, the U.N. reported 358 acts of sexual violence against girls 311 by armed groups and 47 by Congo's armed forces. And in Somalia, 267 children were victims of sexual violence, 120 of them carried out by Al-Shabab extremists. According to the report, violations affected 22,495 children in 2024, with armed groups responsible for almost 50 per cent and government forces the main perpetrator of the killing and maiming of children, school attacks and denial of humanitarian access. The report noted a sharp rise in the number of children subjected to multiple violations from 2,684 in 2023 to 3,137 in 2024. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Violence against children in conflict reached 'unprecedented levels' in 2024: UN
Violence against children caught in multiple and escalating conflicts reached 'unprecedented levels" last year, with the highest number of violations in Gaza and the West Bank, Congo, Somalia, Nigeria and Haiti, according to a United Nations report released late Thursday (June 19, 2025). Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' annual report on Children in Armed Conflict detailed 'a staggering 25% surge in 'grave violations' against children under the age of 18 from 2023, when the number of such violations rose by 21%. In 2024, the UN chief said, 'Children bore the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks, and were affected by the disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements and by deepening humanitarian crises.' He cited warfare strategies that included attacks on children, the deployment of increasingly destructive and explosive weapons in populated areas, and 'the systematic exploitation of children for combat.' Over 41,000 grave violations Mr. Guterres said the United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against children — 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed earlier but verified last year. The violations include killing, maiming, recruiting and abducting children, sexual violence against them, attacking schools and hospitals and denying youngsters access to humanitarian aid. The UN kept Israeli forces on its blacklist of countries that violate children's rights for a second year, citing 7,188 verified grave violations by its military, including the killing of 1,259 Palestinian children and injury to 941 others in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported much higher figures, but the U.N. has strict criteria and said its process of verification is ongoing. Mr. Guterres said he is 'appalled by the intensity of grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel,' and 'deeply alarmed' by the increase in violations, especially the high number of children killed by Israeli forces. Israel urged to abide by international law He reiterated his calls on Israel to abide by international law requiring special protections for children, protection for schools and hospitals, and compliance with the requirement that attacks distinguish between combatants and civilians and avoid excessive harm to civilians. The UN also kept Hamas, whose surprise October 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on the blacklist. Israel's UN Mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Congo, the UN reported 4,043 verified grave violations against 3,418 children last year. In Somalia, it reported 2,568 violations against 1,992 children. In Nigeria, 2,436 grave violations were reported against 1,037 children. And in Haiti, the U.N. reported 2,269 verified grave violations against 1,373 children. In the ongoing war following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations kept the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups on its blacklist for a third year. The secretary-general expressed deep concern at 'the sharp increase in grave violations against children in Ukraine' — 1,914 against 673 children. He expressed alarm at the violations by Russian forces and their affiliates, singling out their verified killing of 94 Ukrainian children, injury to 577 others, and 559 attacks on schools and 303 on hospitals. In Haiti, the UN put a gang, the Viv Ansanm coalition, on the blacklist for the first time. Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. They are now estimated to control 85 per cent of the capital and have moved into surrounding areas. In May, the U.S. designated the powerful coalition representing more than a dozen gangs, whose name means 'Living Together,' as a foreign terrorist organization. Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep 'alarm' at the surge in violations, especially incidents of gang recruitment and use, sexual violence, abduction and denial of humanitarian aid. The report said sexual violence jumped by 35 per cent in 2024, including a dramatic increase in the number of gang rapes, but stressed that the numbers are vastly underreported. 'Girls were abducted for the purpose of recruitment and use, and for sexual slavery,' the U.N. chief said. In Haiti, the U.N. reported sexual violence against 566 children, 523 of them girls, and attributed 411 to the Viv Ansanm gang. In Congo, the U.N. reported 358 acts of sexual violence against girls — 311 by armed groups and 47 by Congo's armed forces. And in Somalia, 267 children were victims of sexual violence, 120 of them carried out by Al-Shabab extremists. According to the report, violations affected 22,495 children in 2024, with armed groups responsible for almost 50 per cent and government forces the main perpetrator of the killing and maiming of children, school attacks and denial of humanitarian access. The report noted a sharp rise in the number of children subjected to multiple violations — from 2,684 in 2023 to 3,137 in 2024.
Shafaq News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran's Supreme Leader vows harsh response to Israeli strikes
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a 'severe punishment' for what he described as a 'crime' committed by Israel. In a message addressed to the Iranian people hours after the beginning of the Israeli attacks, Khamenei accused Israel of deliberately striking residential areas, revealing what he called the 'evil and bloodstained nature' of the regime. The Iranian leader said that the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces will not allow the attack to go unanswered. '[Zionist] regime should anticipate a severe punishment. By God's grace, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces won't let them go unpunished.' In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. To the great Iranian nation! Zionist regime has committed a crime in our dear country today at dawn with its satanic, bloodstained hands. It has revealed its malicious nature even more than before by targeting residential areas. — (@khamenei_ir) June 13, 2025 Khamenei also confirmed that several senior commanders and nuclear scientists were killed in the attack, adding that their successors would immediately continue their duties. The statement came hours after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a series of airstrikes that hit multiple targets inside Iran, including the Natanz nuclear facility and other strategic sites. Iranian state media reported casualties among high-ranking IRGC officers and nuclear personnel. Iran has since shut down its airspace and signaled that a military response is imminent, amid heightened tensions across the region.
NDTV
12-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Stun Grenades, Pepper Balls, Tear Gas: Details Of The LA Police Crackdown
Tensions escalated in Los Angeles as authorities used tear gas, stun grenades and batons to disperse protesters demonstrating against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The city has been witnessing protests for almost a week. According to the New York Post, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and California Highway Patrol fired around 600 baton rounds to break up the ongoing protest. They also released pepper balls, which release pepper spray, causing irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. The police officers also used batons made of wood, metal, or polycarbonate to strike demonstrators, to control the crowd. Over 200 people were arrested on Tuesday after Mayor Karen Bass imposed a citywide curfew in the city. Dr Rohini Haar, a medical adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, said these weapons could be extremely dangerous. She said, "All of these weapons have caused deaths. Stun grenades, projectiles, tear gas, all of them." Kieren Doyle, a senior researcher and educator from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, said that the current situation in Los Angeles was the most intense and serious clash between protesters and police since the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The protests began after ICE conducted a series of immigration raids in the city. The following day, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order without California Governor Gavin Newsom's approval to send 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles. Later, he issued an order for the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to curb the protests against his immigration policies. On Wednesday, protesters targeted multiple stores, including Apple, Adidas, a nearby jewellery store, marijuana shops, and a pharmacy, in the downtown area. They smashed the windows of the Apple Store on Broadway, stole multiple devices and spray-painted things like F**k ICE and other graffiti on the windows and walls of the Japanese American Museum. Mr Trump hit out at California Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for not managing the situation properly in the city and asked them to apologise to the people for doing a terrible job. The Trump administration has told California officials that ICE raids would continue in LA till next month.
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Local veterans celebrate Health for Heroes Award at VE Day Event
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure invited veterans for afternoon tea at Barrhead Foundry to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Veterans were recently invited to an afternoon tea at Barrhead Foundry to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and efforts to support them in East Renfrewshire. The special gathering saw East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure receive the Armed Forces' Covenant Employer Bronze Award, in recognition of its support for the armed forces community. As part of this support, the leisure team developed the Health for Heroes scheme. The initiative launched in 2019 as the first programme of its kind in Scotland, offering free fitness memberships to support local veterans in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council. Veteran Kevin Potts was in the Royal Air Force as a photographic specialist for 22 years. His wife, Fiona, is also a veteran and they are Health for Heroes members. Kevin told the Paisley Daily Express: 'The Health for Heroes initiative is important because there is very little support for veterans when they come out, whether they've served for a short period or had a longer period of service. 'They're left going from a massive family environment to very little, so any support outside is massive to them. It means a lot and makes them feel like they're still part of the veteran family. 'Getting like-minded people together who may have lost touch with the military family gives veterans an opportunity to tell their stories. Having the Health for Heroes environment allows them to pass information on and keep the rhetoric.' James McEwan, from Barrhead, joined the army at the age of 18 and served in Germany and Northern Ireland. The 70-year-old veteran, added: 'There are so many soldiers with so many needs when they come out of the army. I try to push the message that it's not weak to go to combat stress. 'It's not a 'manly' thing to stay away from it - get help if you're struggling with your mental health. 'It's always good if you can do physical exercise. 'I'm just getting back into the gym again and usually come down to use Barrhead Foundry's gym once or twice a week, when I can manage.' Captain David Hanley, 102 Field Squadron's PSAO (Permanent Staff Administration Officer), presented the recognition award at the event, which was attended by veterans, local partners who support the armed forces community and local councillors, including council leader Owen O'Donnell and councillor and veterans champion Kate Campbell. Councillor Campbell said: 'I'd like to congratulate East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure for achieving the bronze award. 'They have been undertaking fantastic work in supporting our local armed forces community, both internally with their employees and across East Renfrewshire. 'Having spoken with a number of veterans, it is clear that the Health For Heroes scheme has been a success and is making a real difference to the lives of local residents. I would encourage anyone from our armed forces community to get involved and see how it could help and support you.' East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's chief executive Anthony McReavy said: 'We are very proud to receive the Armed Forces' Employer Recognition Bronze Award and for our Health for Heroes programme, recognising the positive impact it has in supporting veterans in our community.'
