According to the UN annual report on children in armed conflict, exactly 22,495 violations were committed against children, while the rest affected infrastructure, including schools, and humanitarian aid intended for this age group.

“The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play, but who instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombing, should keep us all awake at night,” said Virginia Gamba, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

The report only details violations that could be independently verified by the United Nations, meaning the true number of grave violations and children affected is likely much higher.

According to the document, the highest number of violations, 8,554, occurred in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, more than double that of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the nation where the problem is second most documented.

While non-state actors played a disproportionate role in violations against children, government actors stand out as the primary perpetrators of killing and maiming children, attacking schools and hospitals, and denying humanitarian access.

Although 16,482 children formerly associated with armed forces or groups received protection or support for social reintegration in 2024, the number of violations against children remains staggeringly high.

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