In total, 24,174 children were directly affected by these violationswhile 3,176 suffered several violations simultaneously, indicates the report, which highlights in particular murders and mutilations, recruitment and use of children, kidnappings, sexual violence, attacks against schools and hospitals, as well as obstacles to humanitarian access.
THE murders (6.266) and the mutilations (7,958) remain the most frequently verified violations, with a “shocking increase” of 34% in the number of children killed compared to 2024, notes the document.
Some 5,129 children were kidnapping victims“often for purposes of recruitment and use†, while 1,667 others were detained “because of their association, real or presumed, with parties to the conflict†.
A third of all victims were girls, underlines the report, which deplores that thousands of children are deprived of the rights, safety and dignity “to which every child is entitled†.
This increase is notably linked to the growing use of explosive weapons in populated areas as well as the growing integration of artificial intelligence in targeting processes, explains the report.
The year 2025 was “one of the darkest chapters for child protection” since the start of the monitoring mechanism, declared the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Fraziercited in the report.
THE children affected by armed conflict “must be considered as victims,†the UN official stressed, adding that reintegration is “the place where a child’s future—and our common future as humanity—is rebuilt†.
“I call on the international community to support, both politically and financially, the reintegration of all children released from armed forces and groups,†concluded Ms. Frazier.
