The UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children has called for stronger global action to protect boys and girls caught up in a growing number of crises, as current efforts fall short.
"Almost 45 million children are displaced because of conflict, but also because of natural disasters, because of the climate crisis," said Najat Maalla M'jid, briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
Food insecurity and the rapid spread of technology are also hampering efforts to reduce violence against children, Ms. M'jid noted, after delivering her final report to the General Assembly, which she described as "a wake-up call" for greater mobilization.
Her presentation to Member States coincided with the 20th anniversary of the first-ever UN global study on violence against children . Although the world has changed since then, she highlighted "ongoing complex multiple crises" facing the international community.
Young lives caught in crises
Today, one in five children lives in extreme poverty "and not only in the poor countries but also in the wealthy countries despite all the money put in cash transfers, cash benefits, and so on", she said.
Other issues of concern include rising prices globally and food insecurity, while some countries are seeing a pushback against human rights.
Added to this is what she called "the wonderful, very, very quick spread of technology, including AI, that offers opportunity but opens huge avenues for child sexual exploitation, but also cyberbullying, deepfakes and enrollment in criminal activities".
A clear message
Ms. M'jid began her remarks by reflecting on the 2006 UN study, which showed that violence against children occurs in every country and across all settings, whether at home, school, in the community and beyond.
She recalled the years of work and engagement - including with children and young people - to produce the document.
"This landmark study really highlights two big principles: violence is always preventable and violence is never justifiable," she said, noting that these messages were also reiterated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Efforts falling short
The Special Representative said the past two decades have brought legal and policy reforms, but also "many difficulties to effectively ensure their implementation and to make services accessible to children and their caregivers".
She pointed to "lessons learned", such as the importance of having strong political commitment that translates into services that uphold child protection and well-being, with a dedicated budget.
She also hailed the increasing participation of children and youth at all levels, as well as stronger integrated services in all regions.
"But the problem is that it is not put at scale, that we are not going fast," she said. "The problem is our solutions are always lagging behind the risks."
'Children are not waiting'
Twenty years after the first UN General Assembly report on child violence, success in combating it still depends on effective multilateralism, Ms. M'jid said, specifically, how can children again unite the world to ensure their protection and well-being.
She announced that 55 countries have joined the Pathfinding Global Alliance on Ending Violence against Children , "and more are coming".
Launched in 2024, the State-led platform aims to support countries in translating political commitments into concrete actions through measures such as peer learning, strengthening co-operation, and sharing practices.
Ms. M'jid concluded her remarks by stressing that children and young people are part of the solution to ending the violence they suffer.
"Children are not waiting," she said. "Children are already taking action."
