Annual Report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) 2024

In 2023, children in conflict zones faced unprecedented levels of violence, according to a report by the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict. The report highlights that 32,990 grave violations were verified against 22,557 children, including recruitment, use in combat, abduction, and attacks on schools and hospitals1. The highest numbers of violations occurred in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, Nigeria, and Sudan. Both armed groups and government forces were responsible, with armed groups primarily committing abductions and sexual violence, while government forces were mainly involved in killing, maiming, and attacking schools. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas significantly contributed to the increase in child casualties