There is no place for childhood in war; however, millions of children are growing up in the middle of horrific violence and are affected by the following six grave violations in many ways.
In 2024, approximately 520 million children – one in five children globally – were living in a conflict zone.
Children living in armed conflict are constantly under threat. From widespread killing, maiming, abduction, and sexual violence to recruitment into armed groups, and attacks on schools and hospitals, children living in conflict around the world continue to come under attack at an appalling rate.
In 2025 alone, 38,558 grave violations against children were verified worldwide.
And in 2024, more than half of the verified grave violations occurred in just four countries: the occupied Palestinian territory, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Somalia.
But what exactly are grave violations?
In the context of children living in conflict, a grave violation is an action that causes significant harm or poses a serious threat to the well-being and rights of children. These violations are usually severe in nature and demand immediate attention and intervention. Grave violations are broken down into one of six categories, which are:
In 2005, the United Nations Security Council established a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) to systematically monitor, document and report on these six grave violations committed against children in conflict:
1. Killing and maiming of children
Often, children are killed or injured by crossfire, aerial bombardment, suicide attacks, shelling, and buried and forgotten landmines.
In 2024, the highest reported numbers of children killed or maimed were in the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia and the DRC.
Al-Baraa Mansoor / Save the Children
2. Recruitment or use of children in armed forces and armed groups
In conflict settings, children are abducted and can be forced to join armed groups to escape poverty or to defend their communities.
Sixteen-year-old Kabera* from the DRC, was threatened to be killed if he did not join the militia. “They trained me on how to assemble and disassemble the weapon, and how to do bad things. For example, how to kill people,” he says. Once Kabera left the militia, he was reintegrated back into his community with the support of a Save the Children local partner. Children like Kabera witness and experience horrific acts of violence which can lead to serious long-term psychological consequences.
On 26 August 2026, a massive flash flood swept through communities along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli river corridor in Nepal, with hundreds of people reportedly missing and thousands impacted. The full extent of casualties and damage is still being assessed; however, more than 10,000 households are reportedly affected. Save the Children has activated its humanitarian response and deployed an immediate response team. Sirish Burlakoti/ Save the Children
3. Attacks on schools or hospitals
Schools and hospitals must remain zones of peace for children even during conflict. When these institutions are attacked or destroyed, the disruption of services has detrimental effects on children.
In South-east Ukraine, the invasion of Russian armed forces disrupted access to essential health care, “You go to the children's clinic, air alarm, everyone is kicked out with their children, the child has a fever, no one is interested," says a young mother.
The village has endured months of relentless hostilities at the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Its school and kindergarten are severely damaged and not able to accommodate classes, so children have to learn from home. But with the poor internet connection and the lack of electronic devices, children are finding it difficult to dial into classes online. To ensure children do not miss out on crucial education, Save the Children arranges a mobile Digital Learning Centre to visit the village once a week. As of August 2023, Save the Children's mobile Digital Learning Centres are operating at 10 settlements in Mykolaiv region and conduct classes according to the program designed to develop children's knowledge and self-awareness. Oleksandr Khomenko / Save the Children
4. Rape or other grave sexual violence
Sexual violence can be a characteristic of war. In some instances, sexual violence has been used as a tactic of war designed to humiliate a population or to force displacement. Oftentimes when children endure this horrendous crime, they can experience long-term psychological trauma, sexually transmitted infections, early pregnancies, rejection by their families, and be forced to drop out of school. Girls and boys who are survivors of sexual violence may not report the crime because they are afraid of potential backlash and the stigma from harmful gender norms.
In Sudan, girls face a disturbingly high number of sexual assault and rape by armed combatants. Between in 2025, 186 cases of sexual violence against girls were officially verified. However, it is believed that this number may be higher, as the UN became much less able to monitor, verify, and respond to serious human rights violations, in Sudan - along with the DRC and Mali - due to a reduction in UN peacekeeping efforts in these countries.
Maheder Haileselassie Tadese / Save the Children UK
5. Abduction of children
Mass abductions of civilians, including children, are on the rise. Armed groups abduct children in greater numbers and use abductions as a tactic to terrorize or target ethnic groups or religious communities.
In conflict zones, children who are abducted from their families can face brutal treatment. Abduction is usually followed by other grave violations like killing, maiming, recruitment into armed forces, or sexual violence.
Metrine lives with her husband and four children in Bungoma, Kenya. Metrine gave birth to her first two children – Faith and Margret – at home, and had her two youngest – Joseph and Trizer – at a health clinic in Bungoma, which Save the Children supports. She had no complications during the birth of her three eldest, but with Trizer, her labour was very long and she was exhausted by the end of it. Thankfully, Metrine had the support of nurses at the health facility. They helped her to stay conscious when she was feeling faint and exhausted – and encouraged her to keep pushing. It took every bit of energy she had, but in the end Metrine gave birth to a healthy baby girl. The nurses carried out post-natal checks on both Metrine and her baby (and gave Trizer a polio vaccine) before discharging them. Sarah Waiswa / Save the Children
6. Denial of humanitarian access for children
In 2025, a total of 8,322 incidents of denial of humanitarian access were reported and verified in conflict areas. The denial of basic needs and supplies threatens the lives of people, especially children.
As the crisis in Gaza rages on, humanitarian access is facing significant challenges. Emergency aid including, water, food, shelter and medicine has been prevented from entering the area, leaving millions of children and families facing famine like conditions and in desperate need of basic assistance.
Medical Supplies from the Egyptian Ambulance Organization on the 23rd of November 2023 List of provided supplies in Notes. Amira Hosny
Standing up for children
More than a century ago, Save the Children’s founder Eglantyne Jebb said, “All wars, whether just or unjust, disastrous or victorious, are waged against the child.” These words are even more meaningful today, since millions of children around the world face violence and conflict.
The six grave violations highlight the significant impact of armed conflicts on children. They underscore the need for international efforts to protect all children and hold perpetrators accountable.
As a child rights organization, it is our priority to protect and uphold the rights of children everywhere. When a conflict arises, we respond immediately and work with local partners to support children and provide essential aid.
War disrupts childhoods and halts dreams. No child should have to grow up like this. We must stop the war on children.
Sources:
Security For Whom? Stop the War on Children 2024 report
Children and Armed Conflict 2025 Report, United Nations General Assembly Security Council
-ch11403861.webp/y53y10a6e25r4m7j413q35wy750fc372.jpeg?g=0.5x0.33&w=1440&h=600&format=webp&itok=DJ1lSrkw "CH11403861_Three friends Musa, Hakim & Nobi from a Rohingya Refugee camp (1)")
