UN Warns of Record Violations Against Children in Conflict; India Calls for Accountability

The United Nations has raised alarm over an unprecedented rise in grave violations against children caught in armed conflicts, urging governments and warring parties to take immediate steps to protect vulnerable children and uphold international humanitarian law. Addressing the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the world had witnessed a record number of verified violations against children in 2025, describing the situation as one of the most serious humanitarian crises in recent years.

Catherine Russell said children continue to bear the heaviest burden of wars across the globe, facing killings, maiming, recruitment by armed groups, sexual violence, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian assistance. She stressed that behind every statistic is a child whose life has been permanently altered by violence and displacement. Calling the trend unacceptable, Russell urged all parties to conflicts to respect international law and ensure the protection of children, regardless of the nature of the conflict.

The UNICEF chief also called for unrestricted humanitarian access to children trapped in conflict zones and appealed to governments to invest in child protection programmes and support survivors. She emphasised that schools and hospitals must never become targets of war and urged the international community to hold perpetrators accountable for crimes committed against children. Russell warned that failure to protect children today would have long-lasting consequences for peace, stability and future generations.

The debate took place against the backdrop of the UN Secretary-General’s latest report, which documented the highest number of verified grave violations against children since global monitoring began. The report attributed the increase to the intensification of ongoing conflicts and the emergence of new crises, underscoring the urgent need for stronger international cooperation to safeguard children’s rights.

Speaking at the debate, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, reaffirmed India’s commitment to protecting children in conflict situations. He stressed that attacks on schools and educational institutions are unacceptable and called for greater accountability for those responsible. Emphasising that education is a fundamental right, India said protecting children and ensuring access to education are essential for building lasting peace and preventing future conflicts.