Speaking on Monday at the annual meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the rights of the child, The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, said the rise shows how dangerous armed conflicts have become for children. She told the United Nations Human Rights Council that reports from more than 60 conflicts worldwide reveal serious violations affecting children.
According to her, attacks on schools have been especially common in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia.
Speaking about the situation in Gaza, Al-Nashif said the area now has the highest number of child amputees per person in the world. She warned that the effects of war go far beyond the fighting itself. Many children lose access to education and suffer deep emotional trauma that can affect their lives and communities for many years.
She also pointed to the situation in Lebanon, where violence has forced many people to flee their homes. In less than a week, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced, and at least 394 people were killed, including 83 children. The country is still recovering from the 2024 Israel–Lebanon conflict.
Al-Nashif explained that displacement often affects children the most. In many cases, children are more likely to die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation than from the fighting itself.
She also raised concern about Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a Cholera outbreak killed 340 children in 2025. She called for urgent action to address the long-term impact of conflict on children.
Al-Nashif emphasized that children’s rights are protected under international human rights and humanitarian laws. Despite the difficult situation, she said children should not only be seen as victims. They can also help promote peace, dialogue, and reconciliation.
She urged governments, international organisations, and civil society groups to work together to reduce the risks children face during conflicts.
“Protecting children is not a luxury,” she said. “It is both a legal duty and a moral responsibility, and we must do more together.”
Also speaking at the meeting, Vanessa Frazier, the special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for children and armed conflict, said violence against children in war zones remained very high in 2025.
She stressed that issues affecting children must be included in peace and security efforts, humanitarian work, human rights programs, and development plans. According to her, involving children in peace processes—when done safely and fairly—can help build lasting peace.
Frazier added that her office will continue to promote children’s voices through its global campaign, Prove It Matters.
