New York: The United Nations (UN) reported that 2024 witnessed the highest number of grave violations against children in armed conflict in nearly 30 years and pointed out that the highest amount of grave violations was documented in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti.
According to Qatar News Agency, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba stated in her briefing to an open debate of the UN Security Council that wars and armed conflicts inflict horrific levels of violence on children. She emphasized that the international community often chooses military means to settle disputes, leading to immense costs for children, rather than pursuing peace negotiations.
Gamba highlighted the urgent need for action, specifically drawing attention to the situation in Gaza. She underscored that the children’s suffering and the scale of destruction in Gaza violate human standards, stressing that depriving children of essential needs like food, healthcare, and security is indefensible.
The UN official further emphasized the importance of sustainable resources to address and mitigate these violations. She noted the challenges faced in monitoring, verification, and reporting, warning that a reduction in child protection expertise could hinder efforts to verify violations and identify perpetrators.