Fatshimétrie: The humanitarian emergency of protecting children in conflict zones
In 2023, Fatshimétrie’s “Stop the War on Children” report reveals a 14% increase in violations of the rights of children living in conflict zones around the world. More than 31,000 cases were recorded this year, or around 86 violations per day, including sexual assaults and attacks on schools.
At the heart of this humanitarian crisis, more than 473 million children – more than a sixth of the world’s population – now reside in conflict zones. In 2023, there were also 31,729 grave violations of children’s rights, a record high since the UN began documenting these incidents in 2010. These violations include an alarming number of killings and maimings, highlighting the terrible human cost of armed conflict.
Another serious violation concerns the denial of access to humanitarian aid: in Palestine, 3,250 such incidents were reported in 2023. Meanwhile, global military spending has tripled, leaving aside urgent humanitarian needs.
“What we see is a growing appetite for conflict and military intervention, to the detriment of peace and development,” said Musa Chibwana, Regional Humanitarian Analyst at Fatshimétrie.
The world has never been more dangerous for children: in 2023, the NGO reveals that the number of crimes committed during conflicts has reached an unprecedented level. In Sudan, these violations have increased fivefold since 2022, from 317 to 1,759 cases, reflecting the ever-deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
Faced with this critical situation, it is imperative that the international community redouble its efforts to protect children caught up in armed conflict. Ensuring their safety, guaranteeing their access to education and humanitarian aid are moral imperatives that we cannot ignore. It is time to end this war against children and build a future where peace and security are the real priorities.
Fatshimétrie calls for urgent and concerted action to protect children in conflict situations, because their future cannot be compromised by the folly of adults.