Children in Borodyanka, Ukraine, study in a bomb shelter. UN reports ‘shocking’ rise in violence against children in conflict Human rights
In 2023, rates of violence against children in armed conflict increased by 21 percent compared to the previous year. Children have been killed and maimed in numerous crisis situations, including in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Ukraine. This is stated in the report of the UN Secretary-General released on Thursday.
According to data verified by the UN, at least 33 thousand gross violations of the rights of more than 22.5 thousand children were committed in conflict situations around the world.
A large number of children were killed and maimed in devastating crises in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly the Gaza Strip, as well as Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine.
The conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the report says, represents an example of serious violations against children of unprecedented scale and intensity: the fighting has led to an increase in the number of serious violations by 155 percent.
War in Ukraine
In Ukraine, the UN confirmed 938 cases of gross violations of the rights of 543 children committed in 2023 alone. In particular, 80 cases of murder of children and 339 cases of mutilation were identified, for which responsibility was assigned to the Russian armed forces and associated groups. In addition, in another 92 cases the guilty party could not be reliably identified. 23 children were verified to have been injured as a result of Ukrainian armed forces intercepting missiles launched by Russia. Russian armed forces and associated armed groups are included in the report’s blacklist. This year’s list of children’s rights violators also included the Israeli military, as well as Hamas.
Ukraine also recorded 335 attacks on schools and hospitals. United Nations Nations confirmed the fact that the Ukrainian armed forces were using two schools and one hospital for military purposes.
The facts of the abduction of 122 children in 2022-2023 have been established. Abductions are attributed to Russian military forces and associated armed groups, as well as Russian authorities located in territories of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation.
Of the total, at least 12 children were reunited with their parents or legal guardians. In addition, the UN confirmed the transfer or deportation of 33 children in the temporarily controlled or occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, to the Russian Federation.
The report states that 60 confirmed cases of denial of humanitarian access, both from the Russian and Ukrainian sides.
Reduction in the number of violations in Ukraine in 2023
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General in his report “notes a significant reduction in the number of serious violations against children” in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. “I call on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” he said. “I also call on parties to the conflict to ensure timely and effective investigations into allegations of abuses against children and to ensure that alleged perpetrators, including members of the security forces and those in command positions, are duly prosecuted.
The UN chief also noted with satisfaction the significant reduction in the confirmed number of children killed and maimed, as well as attacks on schools and hospitals, for which the Ukrainian armed forces are responsible. Antonio Guterres welcomed the signing on 18 August 2023 of a joint plan to prevent serious violations against children by the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations and the close cooperation between them.
The report states “a reduction [in 2023] the total number of verified serious violations against children by Russian military forces and associated armed groups.” However, the UN chief “remains deeply concerned by the continued killing and maiming of children due to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and attacks on schools and hospitals.” The Secretary General called on the government of the Russian Federation to continue interaction with the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict in order to stop and prevent serious violations.
The UN head noted practical measures to prevent cases reported said the Russian Federation, and urged the Russian military and associated armed groups to “promptly agree on the strengthening of these measures.”
The Secretary-General also called on the Russian Federation to provide the UN and its partners with access for the delivery of humanitarian aid across the demarcation lines on the territory of Ukraine temporarily controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation.
Material being updated