Raped, kidnapped, recruited children: over 300,000 have suffered the consequences of war on their own skin in the last 18 years

ROME – Between 2005 and 2022, the United Nations ascertained 315,000 serious violations against children in conflict zones: a clear example of the devastating impact of war on the little ones. Since monitoring began in 2005, theUNICEF it verified 315,000 violations committed by the parties to the conflict in more than 30 places in the world between Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. While the United Nations is circulating this data, Oslo is hosting the international conference on the protection of children in armed conflicts on 5 and 6 June, organized by UNICEF, International Committee of the Red Cross And Save the Children.

The data. More than 120,000 children have been killed or maimed in war zones. At least 105,000 minors have been recruited or used by armed forces or groups. More than 32,500 children have been abducted and more than 16,000 have been victims of sexual violence. The United Nations has verified more than 16,000 attacks against schools and hospitals and more than 22,000 cases in which humanitarian assistance has been denied precisely to children. And these are most likely partial figures, because considering the difficulties of gathering information in conflict zones, the budget could be much higher.

Displaced children. In addition, many millions more children have been forced to flee their homes and villages and are now living as displaced people, often in refugee camps. They have lost friends or family members and been separated from their parents or caregivers. “Any war is ultimately a war against children,” says UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. For which the world is not doing enough to protect the little ones from the wars of the adults in the most vulnerable parts of the world.

The work of UNICEF. In this context, the organization provides care and protection to millions of children, including through mental health and psychosocial support services. The United Nations Children’s Fund deals with child protection case management, family tracing and reunification, and helping child survivors of gender-based violence. In 2022, the agency supported nearly 12,500 children previously recruited by armed forces or groups by helping them reintegrate into society and educated more than 9 million children to protect themselves from explosive remnants of war such as landmines.

Funding. Unfortunately, the scale of children’s needs in conflict does not match the amount of funding available to address these problems. A new analysis of Humanitarian Funding Forecastingcommissioned by UNICEF, Save the Children, Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action And Global Child Protection Area of ​​Responsibility, reveals that by 2024 the child protection sector will request $1.05 billion to cover critical services such as family reunification, mental health support, prevention of recruitment into armed groups. But funding is dwindling and if the pace at which funds are disbursed does not change, there will be a shortfall that will amount to $835 million in 2024 and $1 billion by 2026. This gap could have a devastating impact on children’s skin in conflict zones, as children will be further exposed to the consequences of war, child labour, trafficking and violence.

The Oslo Conference. The aim of the meeting attended by humanitarian organizations, states and donors is to underline the importance of international laws and norms that protect not only children in war, but also the structures and services indispensable for a healthy growth and safe: schools, hospitals, water, sanitation. Support laws prohibiting the recruitment of children into military groups or forces, and laws banning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Prosecuting those who violate the rights of children in conflict zones. Increase resources to fund child protection.