Diaspora, Africa – (African Boulevard News) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has released a report detailing the staggering number of grave violations committed against children in 18 years of conflict. The report, which includes data from more than 30 conflict situations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, has revealed that at least 315,000 grave violations have been committed against children since the turn of the millennium.
The violations, which include killing, maiming, and sexual violence, have had long-lasting and devastating effects on the children involved. Of the 315,000 verified cases, over half of them were incidents of killing or maiming, while sexual violence accounted for over 20,000 cases. The report highlights the severity of the situation and calls for more action to be taken to protect children from harm during times of conflict.
The report also highlights some of the most significant conflicts where grave violations against children have been committed. In Syria, for example, over 17,000 children have been killed or maimed since the conflict began in 2011. In Yemen, over 10,000 violations have been verified, while in South Sudan, the number stands at over 15,000. Other countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Central African Republic, have also seen high levels of violence against children during conflicts.
“There is never any excuse for committing grave violations against children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “The impact of these violations is truly staggering. They rob children of their childhoods and deny them the opportunity to grow up in a safe and healthy environment. We need to do more to ensure that children are protected from harm during times of conflict.”
The report has been welcomed by child rights activists across the world, who have called for urgent action to be taken to protect children in conflict zones. “The scale of the problem is truly alarming,” said Jane Muita, the Executive Director of Save the Children Africa. “We need to do more to ensure that children are protected from harm during times of conflict. Governments, international organizations, and civil society all have a role to play in this.”
The report also calls for greater accountability for those who commit violations against children during times of conflict. “We need to send a clear message that those who harm children will be held responsible for their actions,” said Fore. “Only by doing so can we ensure that children are better protected during times of conflict.”
