UNITED NATIONS: Violence against children in war zones soared to unprecedented levels in 2024, according to a new UN report, with over 41,000 grave violations recorded—the highest figure since monitoring began nearly three decades ago.
The annual report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres revealed a sharp 25% increase in verified violations compared to the previous year. Of the 41,370 grave violations documented, 36,221 occurred in 2024 alone, while 5,149 were from previous years but confirmed last year.
Children bore the brunt of brutal conflicts across the globe, with more than 4,500 killed and over 7,000 injured in acts of violence. The number of child victims subjected to multiple violations surged 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, UN special representative for children and armed conflict. “We are at the point of no return.”
The Palestinian territories topped the report’s list, with over 8,500 violations—most attributed to Israeli forces—including 1,259 confirmed child deaths in Gaza. The UN is still verifying reports of an additional 4,470 child fatalities in the territory. Violence in Gaza intensified following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
Israel’s military operations in Lebanon also came under scrutiny, with over 500 children reportedly killed or injured in 2024. The Israeli military and Hamas remain listed in the UN’s annex of perpetrators, often referred to as the “list of shame.”
Other countries with alarmingly high numbers of violations include the Democratic Republic of the Congo (over 4,000), Somalia (over 2,500), Nigeria (nearly 2,500), and Haiti (more than 2,200).
New entries to the annex include Haitian gang coalition “Viv Ansanm,” which was linked to a staggering 490% increase in violations involving child recruitment and sexual violence, and Colombia’s Clan del Golfo drug cartel. Colombia itself saw a steep rise in child recruitment cases, from 262 in 2023 to 450 in 2024.
Russia’s military remains on the list for its war in Ukraine, where the report recorded a 105% increase in violations compared to the previous year. Sudan’s national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces also remain on the list, amid ongoing internal conflict.
The report calls for urgent international action to address and prevent further violations, with UN officials warning that the scale of violence has crossed critical thresholds.
