Highlighting the situations which are not on the Agenda of the Security Council.

  

Situations not on the Agenda of the Security Council or other situations 

 Burkina Faso

The United Nations verified 1,125 grave violations against 1,089 children (596 boys, 369 girls, 124 sex unknown) and 17 grave violations that occurred in previous years. 

Some 68 children (66 boys, 2 sex unknown) were recruited and used in combat by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) (44), unidentified perpetrators (14) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) (10). 

Some 25 boys were detained for alleged association with armed groups; 9 of the boys were released. 

The killing (438) and maiming (270) of 708 children (377 boys, 223 girls, 108 sex unknown) was attributed to JNIM (370), unidentified perpetrators (218), including in crossfire between parties to the conflict (36), ISGS (59), in joint operations by the Defence and Security Forces and Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (58), and by the Togolese Army (3).

The rape of four girls attributed to Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (2) and unidentified perpetrators (2) was verified. 

 Some 28 attacks on schools (10) and hospitals (18) were attributed to JNIM (16), unidentified perpetrators (8), ISGS (2) and the Defence and Security Forces/ Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (2). 246. Some 309 children (163 boys, 132 girls, 14 sex unknown) were abducted by JNIM (157), ISGS (80), unidentified perpetrators (47) and the Defence and Security Forces/Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (25). 

Some eight verified incidents of the denial of humanitarian access were attributed to JNIM (6), ISGS (1) and unidentified perpetrators (1). 

 Developments and concerns

I welcome the designation of a child protection focal point within the Ministry of Defence and the appointment of officials responsible for enforcing the 2022 handover protocol. I call upon the transitional authorities to engage with the United Nations to adopt measures to protect children. 

I welcome the development of a guide on human rights for the Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie. I encourage continued training of security forces on child protection. 

I note the steps taken by the transitional authorities to sanction members of the Defence and Security Forces involved in human rights violations. I urge the transitional authorities to strengthen accountability and ensure justice and reparations for victims. 

I remain extremely concerned by the high number of grave violations, in particular the killing and maiming of children and the abduction of children, in particular by JNIM and ISGS. I urge all parties to release associated children, cease all violations and end attacks on schools and hospitals.

Cameroon 

The United Nations verified 242 violations against 147 children (65 boys, 66 girls, 16 sex unknown).

 A total of five children remained detained by national authorities for their alleged association with armed groups or on national security grounds. 

 The killing (10) and maiming (82) of 92 children (38 boys, 52 girls, 2 sex unknown) by unidentified perpetrators (86), by the Cameroon Armed Forces (3) and by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) (3) was verified. 

Sexual violence against six girls was attributed to unidentified perpetrators (5) and the Cameroon Armed Forces (1). 

Some 78 attacks on schools (62) and hospitals (16) were attributed to unidentified perpetrators (76), JAS (1) and Islamic State West Africa Province (1). 

The abduction of 50 children (27 boys, 9 girls, 14 sex unknown) by unidentified perpetrators (37) and JAS (13) was verified. Seven children were released. 258. Some 16 incidents of the denial of humanitarian access attributed to unidentified perpetrators were verified. 

Developments and concerns 

I welcome the training by the Government of law enforcement officers on preventing and responding to violations against children, together with the United Nations. I call upon the Government to extend the training to all defence and security forces, to continue to strengthen the protection of children and to ensure accountability for grave violations against children. 

I welcome the adoption of the road map for the implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration and note that the Cameroon Armed Forces vacated 10 schools that had been occupied in 2023. 

I call upon the Government to release all children detained for alleged association with armed groups and I encourage the Government to adopt a handover protocol with the United Nations on their transfer to civilian child protection actors. 

I call upon the Government to engage with the United Nations to adopt a prevention plan for the protection of children. 

I welcome efforts by the Government to reintegrate 447 children. I call upon the Government to provide reintegration programmes for the remaining 1,300 children to avoid prolonging their stay in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration centres. 

I am concerned by continued grave violations, particularly the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals and the abduction of children. I urge all parties to cease all violations. 

Ethiopia 

The United Nations verified 844 grave violations against 458 children (236 boys, 151 girls, 71 sex unknown). Approximately 1,500 reported grave violations and 1,182 reported instances of the military use of schools are pending verification. 

 The recruitment and use of five boys by the Ethiopian National Defence Forces was verified. 266. The detention of one boy by the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (1) for alleged association with armed groups was verified. 

The killing (120) and maiming (138) of 258 children (168 boys, 54 girls, 36 sex unknown) was attributed to unidentified perpetrators (156), the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (54), Fano (33), the Oromo Liberation Army/Front-Shene (12), the Amhara Special Forces (1), the Amhara Police-Amhara Regional Riot Control Forces (1) and the Oromia Police (1), some caused by explosive ordnance (116). 

Sexual violence against 73 children (2 boys, 71 girls) by the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (38), Tigray Defence Forces (1) and unidentified perpetrators (34) was verified. 269. Some 38 attacks on schools (20) and hospitals (18) by unidentified perpetrators (29), the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (8) and the Ethiopian Federal Police (1) were verified, including attacks against teachers (4). 

Two schools were militarily used by unidentified perpetrators. 271. The abduction of 189 children (66 boys, 84 girls, 39 sex unknown) by unidentified perpetrators (107), the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (49) and the Eritrean Defence Forces (33) was verified.

Incidents of the denial of humanitarian access (281) were attributed to unidentified perpetrators (264), the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (10), the Amhara Police (2), Fano (2), Afar Federal Police (1), Agew Shengo (1) and the Oromia Police (1).

Developments and concerns 

I commend progress in the national dialogue, transitional justice and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes, in cooperation with the United Nations, and underline that these must address the rights of children. I call upon donors to support peacebuilding efforts. 

I recall the letters exchanged by the Government with my Special Representative in 2023 and urge the Government to engage with the United Nations on the recommendations contained therein through the adoption of a prevention plan. 

I am gravely concerned by the significant increase in grave violations against children, including the killing and maiming of children, sexual violence against children and the abduction of children, as well as incidents of the denial of humanitarian access. I urge all parties to end and prevent grave violations against children. I urge all parties to allow and facilitate safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access and to safeguard humanitarian personnel from attacks. I call upon the Government to hold perpetrators accountable and to provide assistance to children, following an intersectional approach. 

I call upon the Government to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration. I call upon all parties to protect schools and hospitals from attack.

 I commend the Government for its progress on mine action and I reiterate my call to facilitate the clearance of explosive ordnance and the provision of risk education to children, and my call for the funding thereof

Lake Chad basin 

 Some 2,641 grave violations against 1,224 children (458 boys, 744 girls, 22 sex unknown) and 269 violations that occurred in previous years were verified in the Lake Chad basin region, namely in Far North Region (Cameroon) (49), Lac Province (Chad) (41), Diffa Region (Niger) (115) and the north-east of Nigeria (2,436). Information pertaining to violations in the aforementioned regions of Cameroon, the Niger and Nigeria is included under the respective country sections of the present report. Grave violations were perpetrated by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) (1,753), Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) (714), unidentified perpetrators (154), Bakura (15) and the Nigerian Security Forces (5).

 In Lac Province, 41 grave violations against 38 children (9 boys, 16 girls, 13 sex unknown) were attributed to unidentified perpetrators. These included recruitment and use (2 boys), abduction (38), and one attack on a hospital. 

Two boys were detained in Lac Province by Chadian military authorities for their alleged association with armed groups and were handed over to civilian child protection actors. Developments and concerns.

 I commend the Government of Chad for integrating child protection into the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and call upon the Government to ensure that social reintegration programmes consider the rights of children formerly associated with armed groups. I urge the Government to provide access for the United Nations to children in detention

I am alarmed by the increase in verified grave in verified grave violations against children by JAS and ISWAP and at the disproportionate impact of grave violations on girls. 

 Mozambique,  Cabo Delgado 

 The United Nations verified 954 grave violations against 507 children (402 boys, 105 girls) and 1 grave violation that occurred in 2023. 284. The recruitment and use of 403 children (332 boys, 71 girls) by armed groups was verified. 285. The detention of 51 children (20 boys, 31 girls) by the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (49) and the Rwanda Defence Force (2) for alleged association with armed groups was verified. 

The killing (32) and maiming (12) of 44 children (31 boys, 13 girls) by unidentified perpetrators (22), armed groups (15) and the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces (7) was verified, including casualties caused by explosive ordnance (17). 

Sexual violence against 5 girls was attributed to armed groups. 

Some 31 attacks on schools (19) and hospitals (12) were attributed to armed groups. The military use of schools (4) and hospitals (2) by armed groups (3) and the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces (3) was verified and one school remained in use by the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces. 

The abduction of 468 children (371 boys, 97 girls) by armed groups, including for recruitment and use (392), was verified. Eleven children were released. 

Incidents of the denial of humanitarian access by armed groups (3) were verified, involving attacks on humanitarian facilities (2).

Developments and concerns 

 I welcome the development by the transitional authorities of the Niger of a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration strategy, which includes provisions to protect the rights of children. I welcome the efforts of the authorities to reintegrate children affected by armed conflict, in cooperation with the United Nations. I call upon the transitional authorities to develop a road map for the implementation of the 2017 handover protocol, and to grant the United Nations access to detention centres. 

I call for the appointment and training of local focal points on the protection of children in the armed forces, notably for operational units. I encourage the development of a training programme for the armed forces, with United Nations support. 

 I remain extremely concerned at the number of grave violations against children, notably the abduction and killing and maiming of children. I urge armed groups to release associated children.

 I urge the transitional authorities to reinforce child protection measures, to protect schools and hospitals, and to allow and facilitate safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access. 

 Nigeria 

The United Nations verified 2,436 grave violations against 1,037 children (386 boys, 651 girls) and 269 grave violations that occurred in previous years. 

Some 974 children (345 boys, 629 girls) were recruited and used, mostly following abduction (966), by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) (682), Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) (282), Bakura (7) and the Nigerian Security Forces (3). 

Some 732 children (421 boys, 311 girls) were detained by the Nigerian Security Forces for their or their parents’ alleged association with armed groups. All were released. 

The killing (29) and maiming (20) of 49 children (34 boys, 15 girls) was attributed to JAS (19), ISWAP (19), unidentified perpetrators (10) and the Nigerian Security Forces (1), including caused by explosive ordnance (33). 

Cases of sexual violence, all of which involved forced marriage, against 419 children (7 boys, 412 girls) by JAS (304), ISWAP (114) and Bakura (1) were verified. 311. Three attacks on schools (1) and hospitals (2) by ISWAP (2) and JAS (1) were verified. 

The abduction of 991 children (354 boys, 637 girls) by JAS (690), ISWAP (294) and Bakura (7) was verified. All children escaped or were rescued by the Nigerian Security Forces. Most children (966) were abducted for recruitment and use purposes.

Developments and concerns

 I welcome the fact that the Civilian Joint Task Force, in collaboration with the United Nations, continued to train its troops in the framework of the 2017 action plan. 

I welcome the continued collaboration between the Government and the United Nations on the handover protocol implementation plan. I urge the Government to continue to provide access for the United Nations to children in detention, to release children from detention and facilitate their reintegration. 

I appeal to the Government to ensure accountability for grave violations and access to justice for all victims, as well as provide intersectional protection services. 

 I call upon the Government to expedite explosive ordnance clearance, risk education and victim assistance and call for donor support in that regard. 

 I am gravely concerned by the increase in grave violations against children by JAS and ISWAP, notably abduction, recruitment and use and sexual violence. I urge all parties to release all children from their ranks and end and prevent grave violations.

Pakistan 

 A total of 99 grave violations against 86 children (27 boys, 14 girls, 45 sex unknown) were reported. Children (86) were reportedly killed (44) and maimed (42) by explosive ordnance (84) and casualties that were claimed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2). 

A total of 13 attacks on schools were reported and insecurity had a negative impact on health workers. Developments and concerns. 

I welcome the agreement arrived at between the Government and the United Nations on a child protection road map, formalized in June 2025, and urge its implementation. 

I am concerned about the rise in reported grave violations, including attacks against schools, particularly girls’ schools, and against health workers, and about incidents in the border areas with Afghanistan. 

 Philippines 

 The United Nations verified nine grave violations against 9 children (5 boys, 4 girls). 

 The recruitment and use of seven children (3 boys, 4 girls) attributed to the New People’s Army (4) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (3) was verified. 324. The killing of two boys was attributed to unidentified perpetrators (1) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (1). 325. The use of a madrasa by the Armed Forces of the Philippines during an operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters was verified.

Developments and concerns.

 I welcome the agreement arrived at between the Government and the United Nations on a child protection road map, formalized in June 2025, and urge its implementation. 

 I welcome the continued coordination between the United Nations and the Inter-Agency Committee on Children in Situations of Armed Conflict. I also welcome the extension of the strategic plan, between the United Nations the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United Nations, which prioritizes the training of military personnel on the protection of children. 

 I call upon the New People’s Army to sign an action plan with the United Nations.

 I call upon the Government to enact the human rights defenders bill to protect human rights defenders working with conflict-affected children and communities