International Day to Protect Education from Attack

"Whatever differences countries have, we can all agree they will not be solved by killing schoolchildren. That is why we have the laws of war: to protect children and other civilians caught up in conflict, as well as schools and all civilian infrastructure." -  Mr.  Volker_turk

More than one in six children globally now live in areas affected by conflict, forced to face unthinkable violations. Children in conflict zones face devastating consequences, as urban warfare has turned homes into battlegrounds. The presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance continues to endanger entire communities, with children being especially vulnerable . These weapons alone are responsible for about 25% of child casualties in armed conflicts. In addition, over 3,000 children were detained due to their real or alleged involvement with armed groups , marking an increase from the previous year. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict , Virginia Gamba, emphasizes that these children should be seen primarily as victims and urges authorities to seek alternatives to detention. At the same time, she warns that children caught in hostilities are being robbed of their childhood, as governments and armed groups continue to violate...

  In 2024, grave violations increased, including attacks on schools (44%) and rape (34%). There was a 17% increase in children as victims of severe violations, including abduction, recruitment/sexual violence. The highest numbers of grave violations were verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (8,554), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4,043), Somalia (2,568), Nigeria (2,436) and Haiti (2,269). While non-State armed groups were responsible for almost 50 per cent of grave violations, government forces were the main perpetrator of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access. The sharp rise in the number of children subjected to multiple violations from 2,684 in 2023 to 3,137 in 2024, through the convergence of abduction, recruitment and sexual violence, represented an alarming escalation in brutality. The number of cases of sexual violence increased by 35 per cent, including a dramatic increase in ...