Grave violations against children during armed conflicts in 2022, says UNICEF

NEW YORK  — On Wednesday, the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that it had documented thousands of grave violations against children during armed conflicts in 2022.

The UNICEF documented violations included killing, maiming, sexual violence, abduction, denial of access to humanitarian aid, attacks against schools and hospitals, and the recruitment and use of children by combatants in the armed conflict.

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi affirmed to the United Nations Security Council the increased number of children affected by armed conflicts around the world. He added that more than 27,000 gross violations occurred this year, compared to 24,000 violations last year.

Abdi declared that a serious conflict has erupted in Sudan, causing the displacement of more than a million children.

In annual report to the UN Security Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres put Russia on the blacklist due to its violation of children’s rights during the conflict, including killing boys and girls, as well as attacking schools and hospitals in Ukraine.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Children in Armed Conflicts Virginia Gamba told the UN Security Council that 27,180 grave violations were committed, while 7622 children were recruited by armed groups, and 3958 were 3958 kidnapped and 1163 schools were attacked.