UN report cites Gaza, DRC, Nigeria as child brutality in war-torn regions rises

UN image

Violence against children in conflict zones worldwide has reached unprecedented levels in 2024, the United Nations revealed in its latest annual report on Thursday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted a sharp 25 per cent increase in grave violations against children compared to 2023, underscoring a growing crisis affecting vulnerable youth in war-torn regions.

The report verified 41,370 grave violations against children in 2024, including 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed previously but confirmed in 2024 — the highest number since the monitoring tool was established nearly 30 years ago.

The new high beats 2023, another record year, which itself represented a 21 per cent increase over the preceding year. Punch