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These findings appeared at the annual UN report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) which documents six main violations: killing and maiming, recruitment and use, kidnapping, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
The report verified 38,558 serious violations committed in 2025 affecting 24,174 children, many of whom experienced multiple violations. A third of the victims are women.
This is marking the number of children affected is the highest since the UN established the CAAC mandate 30 years ago.
Dark chapter
For the first time, Government forces were the main perpetrators of serious violations against children, in particular killing and maiming, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
This worrying shift comes amid hostilities, increased use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, and increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the targeting process.
“There is no doubt that 2025 will be one of the darkest chapters for child protection since monitoring began.” said Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict.
“When countries that have an obligation to protect children, instead contribute to children’s suffering, This indicates an increasing erosion of respect for international law.”
Palestinian boy Mohammad Hassan sits in a hospital bed in Gaza after his left leg was amputated in an attack.
A ‘spike’ in killings and maiming
Situations with the highest levels of violations are the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar and Somalia.
Where possible, violations are attributed to the conflicting parties as listed in the report attachment.
Murder and maiming remain the most verified violations, with 6,266 children killed and another 7,958 maimed by 2025. Additionally, these violations reached “alarming levels, with increases of 34 percent and 10 percent respectively,” the report noted.
“In many contexts, military strategy ignores the principles of distinction and proportionality, the special protection afforded to children, and the obligation to take all possible precautions.puts children in foreseeable and avoidable harm,” he said.
Blocks aid, rape, and explosive weapons
Incidents of denial of humanitarian access occurred to 8,322 children, while 6,607 children were recruited and used in hostilities. Another 5,129 children were abducted, often for the purposes of recruitment, exploitation or sexual violence.
Meanwhile, rape and other forms of sexual violence continue increase in verified cases of gang rape used as a war tactic.
Children also remain vulnerable to landmines and explosive remnants of war, which continue to kill and maim even after the conflict ends, with lifelong consequences for survivors including disability, trauma and barriers to education and reintegration.
Rebuilding young lives
Last year, 1,667 children were detained because of or were suspected of being connected to the warring parties. Ms. Frazier stressed that these children must be treated as victims and detention must be a last resort, while underscoring that reintegration programs are essential for peace.
“Reintegration is where children’s futures – and our future as humanity – are rebuilt,” he said, urging the international community to increase political and financial support for children released from armed forces and groups, including those with disabilities.
He further asked all parties to immediately provide humanitarian assistance that is safe, fast and without obstacles.
Duty to protect
The CAAC’s mandate turns 30 this year and although the situation for children has deteriorated sharply in some areas in the past year, important progress has been made.
For example, 13,112 children who previously belonged to the armed forces or armed groups received protection or reintegration supportwhile around 40 commitments were taken by the parties to the conflict, including handover protocols, capacity building initiatives, unilateral commitments, and bilateral dialogue, in countries such as Somalia, Ukraine, and Colombia.
Highlighting the warning, Ms. Frazier emphasized that “words alone are not enough; long-lasting and decisive action is needed” because “protecting children is not an aspiration – it is an obligation.”
