Save the Children: Violations against children during wars rose by 13% in 2022

A report by Save the Children says the number of grave violations against children during crises rose by 13 percent in 2022.

The report titled ‘Stop the War on Children: Let Children live in Peace’, said 27,638 grave violations were committed against children during conflict in 2022.

It added that killing and maiming of children had the highest number of reported and verified cases at 8,647.

It said this was followed by cases of recruitment and use of children in conflict, which increased by 20 percent to 7,610.

Save the Children said the figures are the highest since reporting started in 2005.

“These violations represent the worst crimes that can be committed against children in conflict, including killing, maiming, abduction and sexual violence to recruitment into armed groups and strikes on schools and hospitals,” the report reads.

“These violations are also known to only represent a small fraction of the total number of cases, as some abuses are never reported, while others committed in 2022 are still being verified.”

Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said while these trends were devastating, the number of violations against children is expected to be even higher in 2023 due to the conflict in Sudan — which is now the world’s worst displacement crisis for children — and the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

“It’s a terrible time to be a child in war. The global norms that were set up to protect children from the worst that could be committed against them are crumbling,” he said.

“The trends are all in the wrong direction — violations against children increasing year after year.

“In 2022 the data shows that there were 76 violations against children on average per day, although due to under-reporting we know this is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg.

“While the data is for 2022, we expect 2023 to be no better — indeed, we may reach new lows.

“The humanitarian crisis in Sudan — the worst displacement crisis on earth for children — has seen killing, horrific sexual violence, torture and maiming of children on a scale not witnessed for a generation.

“We have also seen children bearing the brunt of the conflict in Gaza, where over a million young lives are on the line.

“We are seeing hospitals become battlegrounds, and food and water supplies cut off.

“A definitive ceasefire is needed now, immediately, to stop the suffering in Gaza.”