UNICEF alerts: Grave violations against children's rights increases

UNICEF alerts: Grave violations against children's rights increases

In the midst of armed conflicts, UNICEF raised the alarm over the rapid increase in child casualties. "Thousands of children have been left homeless, displaced, or maimed because of armed conflict, intercommunal violence, and insecurity in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and northern Ethiopia," the organization said.

According to UNICEF, grave violations of children's rights occur at all levels of conflict around the world. These violations include child deaths and mutilations, recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, attacks on educational and medical facilities, abductions and the blocking of humanitarian aid.

Against the children, "a spate of grave violations" occurred both in long-standing and new conflicts in 2021, according to the organization. Approximately 26,425 violations were confirmed by the UN in 2020.

Various grave violations are being committed against children, according to UNICEF. A rise in abductions of children and sexual violence has been documented in the first quarter of 2021.

Some 266,000 grave violations against children have been confirmed since UNICEF began reporting and verifying grave violations in 2005. However, UNICEF estimates that even more grave violations may still occur. Particularly high numbers of grave violations were found in regions facing conflict, including parts of the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Somalia and Yemen had the highest rates of grave violations. Among the countries reporting child abduction statistics, the biggest has consistently been Afghanistan.

UNICEF warns that high-population areas should be especially concerned about explosives. According to the statement, explosive weapons were responsible for nearly 50 percent of child casualties and resulted in more than 3,900 children being killed or maimed in 2020.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore commented: "Year after year, parties to conflict continue to disregard children's rights and welfare.

The suffering and deaths of children are a result of this callous disregard. We must take every precaution to protect these children. It is only when parties to a conflict take concrete steps to protect children living through war and stop committing grave violations that children will be safe."

Several grave violations of the rights of children were denounced by UNICEF. Children in countries experiencing armed conflict should be better protected from harm immediately by "all parties to the conflict."