Latest news with #UNReport
SBS Australia
6 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
One killed every two hours: Why is violence against children rising in armed conflicts?
The violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with children bearing the brunt of relentless hostilities, indiscriminate attacks, disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements, and deepening humanitarian crises, according to a new UN report. Source: Getty / Global Images Ukraine This article contains references to abuses against children. Violence against children caught up in wars and conflicts hit "unprecedented levels" last year, according to a new United Nations report. The Children and Armed Conflict report shows that with a 25 per cent increase, there were 41,370 grave violations incidents in 2024 — the highest number reported since the inception of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate almost 30 years ago. Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, notably the Gaza Strip, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti were cited as experiencing the highest numbers of child deaths. The UN has identified six grave violations against children in conflict, which it monitors and reports on: killing and maiming, recruitment or use of children as soldiers, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools or hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access. Most of these violations rose in 2024, including attacks on schools (44 per cent), and rape and other forms of sexual violence (34 per cent). In total, 22,495 children were affected by recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and abduction. Special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, said this "should keep all of us awake at night'. 'This must serve as a wake-up call. We are at the point of no return." According to the report, 4,676 children lost their lives in armed conflicts in 2024, equivalent to one child being killed every two hours. It also shows that 7,291 children were maimed, 7,402 were recruited and used in armed conflicts, 4,573 were abducted, and 1,982 were victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence. There were also 2,374 attacks on schools and hospitals, mostly in "Ukraine, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Haiti, Afghanistan and Myanmar". According to the report, warfare strategies in 2024 "included targeted attacks on children, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and the systematic exploitation of children in hostilities and for military and sexual purposes". "Heavy bombardments, missile strikes, and the relentless use of explosive weapons in urban areas have turned homes and neighbourhoods into battlefields," Gamba said. She said that the "widespread deployment of landmines" had "dire consequences" for children. "These weapons alone account for one-quarter of all those killed or injured in hostilities," she said. The report says armed forces respecting international law, protecting hospitals, and refraining from using explosive weapons in populated areas were among measures that would prevent grave violations against children. "The best way to protect children from hostilities is to eliminate the push and pull factors leading to their involvement in armed conflict," it stated.
LBCI
a day ago
- LBCI
Violence against children hit 'unprecedented levels' in 2024: UN
The United Nations said Thursday that violence against children in conflict zones reached "unprecedented levels" in 2024, setting a new grim record since monitoring began nearly 30 years ago. "In 2024, violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels, with a staggering 25 percent surge in the number of grave violations in comparison with 2023," according to the annual report from the secretary-general. AFP
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Violence against children hit ‘unprecedented levels' in 2024: UN
From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence against children in conflict zones reached 'unprecedented levels' in 2024, a United Nations annual report said Thursday. 'In 2024, violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels, with a staggering 25 percent surge in the number of grave violations in comparison with 2023,' according to the report from UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres. The report verified 41,370 grave violations against children in 2024 – including 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed previously but confirmed in 2024 – the highest number since the monitoring tool was established nearly 30 years ago. The new high beats 2023, another record year, which itself represented a 21 percent increase over the preceding year. With more than 4,500 killed and 7,000 injured, children continue to bear 'the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks,' the report said. There was also a marked increase in the number of child victims of multiple violations to 22,495. 'The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play ball – but instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombings – should keep all of us awake at night,' said Virginia Gamba, special representative of the UN secretary‑general for children and armed conflict. 'This must serve as a wake‑up call. We are at the point of no return.' In its annual report, the UN compiles violations of the rights of children, those aged under 18, in some 20 conflict zones around the world. In its appendix, a 'list of shame' calls out those responsible for these violations – a powerful coalition of Haitian gangs was added this year – which include child killings and mutilations, recruitment to violence, kidnappings, denial of humanitarian aid, and sexual violence. The Israeli armed forces, which were named last year along with Palestinian militant group Hamas, remain on the list. The Palestinian territories occupy the top spot in the dismal rankings, with more than 8,500 serious violations, the vast majority attributed to Israeli forces, including more than 4,800 in the Gaza Strip. This figure includes confirmation of 1,259 Palestinian children killed in Gaza, and the UN notes it is currently verifying information on an additional 4,470 children killed in 2024 in the war‑torn territory. Violence erupted there following Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The report also calls out Israel's military operations in Lebanon, where more than 500 children were killed or injured last year. Following the Palestinian territories, the countries where the UN recorded the most violence against children in 2024 are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (more than 4,000 grave violations), Somalia (more than 2,500), Nigeria (nearly 2,500), and Haiti (more than 2,200). 'List of shame' inductees include Haitian gang coalition Viv Ansanm, blamed for a 490 percent increase in violations, including child recruitment, murders, and gang rapes. Another addition to the list is Colombian drug cartel Clan del Golfo, which is accused of child recruitment. Colombia in general recorded a significant increase in cases of forced recruitment, with 450 children in 2024 compared to 262 the previous year. Remaining on the list are the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting in Sudan for more than two years. Also listed again is the Russian army for its actions in Ukraine, where the report records a 105 percent increase in serious violations between 2023 and 2024.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
UN: Violence against children in conflict zones hits 30-year high in 2024
NEW YORK, June 20 — From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence against children in conflict zones reached 'unprecedented levels' in 2024, a United Nations annual report said yesterday. 'In 2024, violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels, with a staggering 25 per cent surge in the number of grave violations in comparison with 2023,' according to the report from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The report verified 41,370 grave violations against children in 2024 — including 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed previously but confirmed in 2024 — the highest number since the monitoring tool was established nearly 30 years ago. The new high beats 2023, another record year, which itself represented a 21 per cent increase over the preceding year. With more than 4,500 killed and 7,000 injured, children continue to bear 'the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks,' the report said. There was also a marked increase in the number of child victims of multiple violations to 22,495. 'The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play ball — but instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombings — should keep all of us awake at night,' said Virginia Gamba, special representative of the UN secretary-general for children and armed conflict. 'This must serve as a wake-up call. We are at the point of no return.' In its annual report, the UN compiles violations of the rights of children, those aged under 18, in some 20 conflict zones around the world. In its appendix, a 'list of shame' calls out those responsible for these violations — a powerful coalition of Haitian gangs was added this year — which include child killings and mutilations, recruitment to violence, kidnappings, denial of humanitarian aid and sexual violence. The Israeli armed forces, which were named last year along with Palestinian militant group Hamas, remain on the list. Conflict casualties The Palestinian territories occupy the top spot in the dismal rankings, with more than 8,500 serious violations, the vast majority attributed to Israeli forces, including more than 4,800 in the Gaza Strip. This figure includes confirmation of 1,259 Palestinian children killed in Gaza, and the UN notes it is currently verifying information on an additional 4,470 children killed in 2024 in the war-torn territory. Violence erupted there following Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The report also calls out Israel's military operations in Lebanon, where more than 500 children were killed or injured last year. Following the Palestinian territories, the countries where the UN recorded the most violence against children in 2024 are: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (more than 4,000 grave violations), Somalia (more than 2,500), Nigeria (nearly 2,500), and Haiti (more than 2,200). 'List of shame' inductees include Haitian gang coalition 'Viv Ansanm,' blamed for a 490 per cent increase in violations, including child recruitment, murders and gang rapes. Another addition to the list is Colombian drug cartel Clan del Golfo, which is accused of child recruitment. Colombia in general recorded a significant increase in cases of forced recruitment, with 450 children in 2024 compared to 262 the previous year. Remaining on the list are the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting in Sudan for more than two years. Also listed again is the Russian army for its actions in Ukraine, where the report records a 105 per cent increase in serious violations between 2023 and 2024. — AFP
Bloomberg
11-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Global Fertility Crisis Can't Be Solved With Financial Perks, UN Report Says
Solving the global fertility crisis would require creating conditions that support parenting instead of pushing economic incentives, according to a new UN report. A new UN Population Fund study argued that efforts by many countries to boost their population with family bonuses or fertility targets do not always have a long-term impact and could even backfire.
