Children are the most vulnerable in times of armed conflict. Wars and hostilities deprive them of their lives, families, homes, essentially from their very childhood. They become both targets and instruments of war. They are recruited as child soldiers, abducted, maimed or killed, sexually violated, their schools and hospitals are attacked, and they are deprived of essential humanitarian aid.
Ensuring that the needs of children are addressed before, during and after the conflict is at the core of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, created 25 years ago by the General Assembly.
Despite the horrors they have endured, children have a chance to recover from atrocities and become positive agents of change in their communities. But for that, they need our support.
“From Despair to Hope: Children Beyond Armed Conflict” aims at reflecting on the complexity of the lives of children amidst conflict, emphasizing both the tragedy and the faith in a better future.
Organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
“Step by step, we are proving that grave violations against children can be stopped. But much more is needed. Children are still in harm’s way. Peace is in short supply. Cycles of violence and despair won’t stop automatically. All partners need to continue supporting the Office’s vital monitoring and reporting work. We need to strengthen our support of released children so they can reintegrate into their communities. We need to place the needs and rights of children first in peace negotiations. And we need to honour their bravery and resilience by giving them a full and active voice in their countries’ futures. The Children and Armed Conflict mandate is more important than ever. Let’s keep the promise we made 25 years ago.” - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ message to mark the 25th anniversary of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate
According to the latest Secretary-General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, 19,379 children were victims of grave violations in 2020.
The 6 grave violations against children as identified and condemned by the 缅北禁地Security Council are:
- The recruitment and use of children
- The killing and/or maiming of children
- Rape and other forms of sexual violence
- Abduction of children
- Attacks on schools and hospitals
- Denial of humanitarian access
Ending and preventing grave violations against children is at the heart of the children and armed conflict mandate
“This is a space devoid of the most basic human values; a space in which children are slaughtered, raped, and maimed; a space in which children are exploited as soldiers; a space in which children are starved and exposed to extreme brutality. Such unregulated terror and violence speak of deliberate victimization. There are few further depths to which humanity can sink.” - Impact of Armed Conflict on Children, Gra?a Machel, 1996
Children are the primary victims of armed conflict. Around the world, over 400 million children live in countries affected by violent conflict, per UNICEF's figures.
Kennedy, 13, South Sudan
63% of all South Sudanese refugees are children according to UNHCR
Moses, 18, South Sudan
* Featured individual is no longer a child but it's his experience as a minor that is reflected in this exhibit.
Nakato, 19, Uganda
* Featured individual is no longer a child but it's her experience as a minor that is reflected in this exhibit.
Moza, 8, Iraq
Usama, 11, Iraq
In Iraq, almost 3.2 million children are out of school (UNICEF), making them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, such as recruitment by armed elements and early marriage.
Tabarak, 6, Iraq
With the last stand of ISIS in Mosul in 2017, the Department of Education reported 130 schools had been totally destroyed.
Sarah, 14, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo held the tragic record of the highest number of children recruited and used in 2020. Close to 15% of children between 5 and 17 years were engaged in child labour in the country. The recruitment and use of children is considered a worst form of child labour.
Charles, 16, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Niyosenga, 12, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ali, 9, Syria
Millions of Syrian children require some form of humanitarian assistance. There are currently some 488,000 school-aged Syrian refugee children in Lebanon (3-18 years).