Open debate on children and armed conflict — Global Issues

© UNICEF/Aleksey Filippov
Children learn about the dangers of explosive weapons in an underground train station in Ukraine.
The UN Security Council is meeting on Thursday for an open debate on strengthening protections for children caught in armed conflict. The Secretary-General’s latest report reveals that in 2025, soldiers and Government forces were responsible for more grave violations against children in armed conflict than non-State armed groups, marking a first in 30 years of UN monitoring. The report verified 38,558 grave violations such as killing, recruitment and abduction, affecting 24,174 children, many of whom suffered multiple violations.
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