The proliferation of conflicts, the impact of the climate crisis, rising inequalities, and ongoing violence have led to widespread violations of children’s rights. In a time when international humanitarian and human rights frameworks face persistent attacks, the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child serves as an urgent reminder to raise the alarm. While challenges remain significant, it is crucial to emphasize that solutions can be found and that a world more protective of children and their rights is still within reach.
This belief motivated UNICEF Belgium, Plan International Belgium, and the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to organize an international conference on children's rights in various humanitarian crises, held on 22 November 2024, which brought together more than 200 experts from across the globe.
Organised at the Egmont Palace in the heart of Brussels, the conference brought together representatives from international child rights organizations, diplomats, academics, national and international civil society, Belgian and European officials, as well as senior UN officials. Their shared goal was to defend progress made and explore ways to build a better present and future for every child. In her opening remarks, Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians highlighted a sobering reality, reflecting the perils of our time: “The Convention on the Rights of the Child was a turning point. It had a profound impact and led to political reforms benefiting children, who became agents of change. Yet today, children’s rights are in danger.”
The statistics are stark and undeniable: grave violations of children’s rights are on the rise, with 32,990 violations verified recorded in 2023 [1] compared to 27,180 in 2022 [2]. This represents just the tip of the iceberg, as the vast majority of these violations go undetected. The primary factor behind the worsening situation of children’s rights is armed conflict. The conference discussions therefore centered on the devastating effects of war, which continue to affect the lives of millions of children.
Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Somalia, Myanmar, ... Wars and armed conflicts are increasing in both number and intensity, affecting nearly 400 million children worldwide [3]. This sobering figure framed the day’s debates, highlighting the disturbing reality that nearly one in five children is caught up in the violence of war. Children are killed, kidnapped, recruited into armed groups, raped, displaced, and have their schools targeted, perpetuating the cycle of violence, as Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, noted. Amid this widespread chaos, the mental health of children is often deeply affected. Additionally, girls bear the heaviest burden, as seen in Afghanistan and Haiti, where violence against children surged by 1,000% last year [4]. Out of UN-verified reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence against children worldwide, 98% of the victims are girls [5].
In the background, the climate crisis exacerbates these challenges. “The climate crisis threatens access to food, causes population displacement, worsens poverty, and fuels new conflicts,” stated Cécile Aptel, Deputy Director of UNICEF’s Innocenti Research Centre. Nearly one billion children live in areas at risk of experiencing the impacts of climate change [6]. Humanitarian aid and its representatives are also increasingly targeted, hindering efforts to prevent conflict and facilitate mediation.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most signed and ratified international human rights instrument in the world. Over time, numerous rules, declarations, and resolutions have been put in place to protect civilians and children. But, as speakers at the conference unanimously acknowledged, signing and ratifying these agreements is not enough. During conflicts, these international frameworks are often ignored by the parties involved. One of the key challenges of the next decade will be ensuring the enforcement of these agreements and holding those responsible for violations accountable in court. As Olof Skoog, EU Special Representative for Human Rights, posed the question, “How can we remain optimistic when children are direct targets?” According to him, we must continue to hold on to the human rights framework, “reminding that war does not exempt states from respecting their international commitments,” but also defend those who are fighting to build a fairer world.
To hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable, it is essential to activate all available mechanisms: the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and, as Ann Marie Skelton, current Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, emphasized, “working with magistrates who must listen to what children have to say.” Children’s voices must be heard, and "children’s rights must be integrated into all humanitarian interventions," echoed Kitty van der Heijden, UNICEF’s Deputy Director.
Young people at the forefront of change during crises
Halima and Fatima, both youth ambassadors for Plan International and co-authors of a research project on the impact of the climate crisis on adolescent girls in the Sahel, delivered a compelling testimony based on their experiences and those of their peers. They shared their experiences from their village in northern Nigeria, where deadly floods displaced many, and a cholera epidemic has worsened the already dire conditions. “In our region, everyone feels the direct and indirect impacts of the climate crisis, which limits our ability to build a future,” Fatima shared.
“The impact is even greater for girls,” Halima added. They described the recurring droughts ravaging their area, which force girls to leave school to fetch water and food, exposing them to the risks of abduction, sexual violence, reduced access to education, and jeopardized health. “Our voice must be heard,” they concluded, in a powerful plea for recognition and inclusion. As Kitty van der Heijden reminded the audience, “We must never forget to listen to the voices of children, because they are agents of change.” Participation is one of the core principles of the CRC, and despite the ongoing challenges to children’s rights, it remains a vital part of the solution, as emphasized by this powerful testimony.
Education under attack
Attacks on education have reached alarming levels. In 2023, their number increased by 20% compared to the previous year. Over 10,000 teachers or students were killed, abducted, or arrested, and hundreds of schools were destroyed, often targeted by explosive devices. [7]
Attacks on schools (and hospitals) is one of the six grave violations of the UN mandate on Children and Armed Conflict. Attacks on access to education also undermine many other rights, as Virginia Gamba highlighted, “damaging children’s mental health, destabilizing their socio-economic futures, and fueling conflict”. These violations continue to increase despite the adoption of international instruments intended to protect human rights, particularly education, even during humanitarian crises. In 2021, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2601, reaffirming the obligation of states to protect schools, even in the event of armed conflict. In this resolution, the Security Council expressed itself as ‘deeply concerned’ by the lack of progress on the ground and specifically highlighted the attacks on girls, who are denied their right to education. A clear link was made between education and peacebuilding. [8]
In 2015, several states signed the ‘Safe Schools Declaration’, committing to protect school buildings, teachers, and students. Currently, almost 120 states have endorsed the declaration, with about 40 adopting action plans following their signature, and 21 have fully or partially implemented their school protection programs on the ground.
In 2024, European Union Member States revised the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict and adopted EU Council Conclusions on the topic during the Belgian EU presidency, emphasizing education as a fundamental right. The protection of children and access to education are also guaranteed under international humanitarian law, which takes precedence during times of war.
Despite the international community’s official commitments, schools no longer remain safe sanctuaries. Alysson Batcha, from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, shared the troubling reality: “We have documented systematic attacks on schools in 28 countries in 2022 and 2023.” In 2023, nearly 73 million children were unable to attend school due to conflict. Indiscriminate attacks on civilians have not spared educational institutions. [9]
The gap between existing frameworks and their practical application is wide. To reverse this trend, it is urgent to adopt a “new approach,” argued Alysson Batcha. This would first and foremost involve holding perpetrators accountable in appropriate courts, “even if it is politically uncomfortable,” added Bethany Ellis from the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict advocacy network. “Children must be a priority and not victims of political considerations,” especially at a time when these violations are being committed by state actors in places like Ukraine, Myanmar, and Gaza. It is therefore essential to combat impunity and demand that governments strongly condemn such attacks. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child can play a crucial role in strengthening and harmonizing protection standards for the right to education, while closely monitoring their implementation and violations.
On the ground, best practices are being implemented, offering inspiring prospects and positive horizons in a world marked by violence. In Mali, Colombia, and Nigeria, initiatives aim to translate the Safe Schools Declaration into everyday reality. This includes the adoption of legislation based on the declaration, as well as the creation of local committees to ensure its effective implementation and the protection of institutions, teachers, and students.
According to Virginia Gamba, it is essential to document these attacks on education and make them visible to the widest audience. It is also crucial to criminalize attacks on education and prosecute those responsible. Ensuring the enforcement of existing rules, using all available means, and mobilizing necessary resources are vital to uphold international law and bring perpetrators of child rights violations to justice. It is through education, and only through education, that children can become aware of their rights and have them respected. Education is the only path to lasting peace.
The climate crisis: a storm threatening children's rights
Nearly 559 million children are currently exposed to severe heatwaves, a number that could rise to 2 billion by 2050 [10]. At the same time, deadly floods are destroying everything in their path, starting with access to basic services.
It is primarily the health and well-being of children that are being affected by global warming and its extreme weather events, as recently highlighted in UNICEF’s report ‘A Threat to Progress’. [11] “Children are not just passive victims,” emphasized Isabelle Kolebinov of the Child Rights International Network (CRIN) at the beginning of the session discussing the impact of the climate crisis on children’s rights. Children are mobilizing, especially on climate issues, as they are best placed to describe how these changes are impacting their lives, and are becoming key actors in raising global awareness. “Greta Thunberg has done more for the climate than many politicians,” reminded Benoît Van Keirsbilck, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The audience recognized the central importance of children’s participation in decision-making processes related to the climate crisis. However, a cautionary note emerged: there is a risk that this participation could become a mere token gesture by inviting a handful of selected children to the table for appearances’ sake. Therefore, organizations leading participatory processes must carefully consider their true intentions.
Increasingly, children are being invited to share their experiences and expertise on climate issues in international meetings of world leaders. While the outcomes of the 29th COP in Baku (Azerbaijan) reflected a mix of progress and setbacks, it still served as an encouraging example of this. These are initial steps that should be expanded and made more widespread.
However, ensuring meaningful, inclusive participation is a heavy burden, and it should not rest solely on the shoulders of children. This is why states, NGOs, and youth organizations must support these processes. This is even more critical when it comes to international climate-related litigation. Legal battles aimed at holding governments accountable for their inaction, when proven, are multiplying. These are complex to pursue, especially for younger activists who must learn everything on the fly and demonstrate extraordinary courage. Several participants referenced the case of Swiss grandmothers and their historic victory in holding their country accountable for “climate inaction” in front of the European Court of Human Rights, done on behalf of their grandchildren [12].
Benoît Van Keirsbilck also referenced the 2021 decision by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which was presented with a case from 16 young activists regarding the climate crisis. The Committee declared the case inadmissible because the activists had not first pursued legal action in their home countries before bringing the case to the UN [13]. However, the Committee’s reasoning opened up new pathways for future legal action, both at the national and international levels. “With this decision, the Committee formally recognized that the climate crisis is a child rights crisis,” summarized Benoît Van Keirsbilck. “States have firm obligations in this regard.”
Another significant example comes from Vanuatu. It is on this Pacific island that students launched a global movement, rallying hundreds of children, calling for the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on states’ obligations regarding climate change. On March 29, 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution requesting the Court to address this issue. [14]
Children’s voices must be proactively sought out, “because those most at risk have no time to engage in participation or advocacy,” as Aoife Fleming from the NGO ‘World’s Youth for Climate Justice’ and former youth representative at the United Nations reminded us. It would therefore be valuable to direct funds to help young people and children amplify their voices or strengthen their knowledge and skills through education and training. In a context of dwindling resources, funding for participation should be allocated to support the representation of the most marginalized voices. At the same time, it is crucial to remove the many administrative barriers that slow down participatory processes or hinder the ability to bring cases before the courts.
Addressing the specific needs of girls
“We are engaged in a real fight,” said Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children. Her statement served as a wake-up call, directed at participants in the working group focused on violence and exclusion experienced by girls and young adolescent girls. This fight is not being waged on equal terms, as girls often remain invisible in armed conflicts or humanitarian crises. Despite a glaring lack of detailed, gender-disaggregated data, estimates show that gender-based and sexual violence increased by 50% between 2022 and 2023, amid a growing number of crises [15].
More than 370 million girls and women alive today, or 1 in 8, experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18, according to a UNICEF report on the issue [16]. The small gains made toward gender equality in the 1990s are now being challenged, further distancing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by 2030. On the contrary, with the increasing number of armed conflicts, intensifying natural disasters, and the resurgence of anti-gender backlash, discrimination and violence against girls and young women are on the rise. In this context, access to education, healthcare, and freedom of movement are further restricted. Girls are forcibly married, abducted, or subjected to abuse. Participants reminded us that in Afghanistan, women and girls are deprived of their most basic rights. These human rights violations should be classified as “gender apartheid” and should mobilize the entire UN system to counter this gender-based oppression.
Again, legal tools exist, but the willingness of states to implement them remains far from satisfactory. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality are key examples. It is therefore essential to support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable through justice. “The empowerment of girls begins with justice,” emphasized Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director of the NGO ‘Legal Action Worldwide.’ “Survivors need to see the perpetrators held accountable for their actions. But justice is a long journey.”
To begin this journey, it is crucial to address governments, particularly through large-scale awareness campaigns, to encourage them to adapt their national legal frameworks to fully integrate children’s and women’s rights. By promoting access to justice, the goal is to strengthen the legal foundations that allow for complaints to be filed at the national or international level. “All human rights protection mechanisms must be optimized. International humanitarian law and international courts must be mobilized to respond to this thirst for justice,” added Birgit van Hout, Director of the UN Population Fund’s Representation to the European Union.
On the ground, humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and child protection services for women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence must work together closely. It is essential to urgently dismantle the invisible barriers that divide them. We need to create new, global, and cross-sectoral approaches. Too often, these actors work in isolation, offering fragmented aid. It is time to introduce a real strategy in our actions, dedicating less energy to grand declarations.
Mental health and psycho-social support: the challenges of emergency aid
Young people’s mental health is under significant strain. UNICEF estimates that more than 166 million adolescents aged 10-19 live with a diagnosed mental disorder [17]. However, this number likely overlooks countless unrecognized cases, hidden pain, unspoken struggles, and increased isolation. The right to good health, including mental well-being, is becoming more vulnerable as conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to grow. Violence, deprivation, displacement, and separation leave deep scars on children, hindering their development and leaving long-lasting effects. It is estimated that around 20% of children experiencing emergencies will suffer psychological consequences [18], often with little to no access to basic services or adequate mental health support.
In some extreme contexts, particularly when conflict persists without stability, it is impossible to provide adequate support. This is the case in Gaza, where people live in a constant state of hypervigilance, struggling daily for survival. “It is probably because of the increase in the number of conflicts, the number of children affected, and the severity of the crises that awareness is growing about the importance of mental health and psychosocial support,” said Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Representative to the European Union.
“Mental health for children is a shared responsibility across multiple sectors and must involve many agencies and actors,” emphasized Rachel McKinney of the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE). The exchange and sharing of best practices were central to the working group's discussions. At the centre of the discussions was mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), a term that refers to the help provided to children in distress. It is not just a sector, but an approach embraced by various actors who step in to support children in need at different stages.
One of the main challenges is aligning practices. Leah James, an expert in mental health and psychosocial support, pointed participants to the reference website for the ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Minimum Service Package’ (https://www.mhpssmsp.org/en). The site outlines practical actions to take during emergencies to coordinate efforts on the ground, help stabilize children’s daily lives, restore some sense of normalcy, or create routines that encourage children to open up. It also provides guidance on how to create and evaluate MHPSS plans, share key messages to promote mental health, and offer early childhood development activities. This multisectoral approach helps to build a shared understanding of the interventions, procedures, and actions needed to improve children’s mental health. The participants stressed that MHPSS should be central to all efforts aimed at supporting children in crisis.
Children’s mental health involves a wide range of actors: parents, who are at the forefront of crises, need to be equipped to support their children. Teachers, too, often hesitate to take on a role in children’s psychological care, feeling unprepared to manage potential distress. Relinde Reiffers, an MHPSS expert with the NGO Save the Children, introduced ‘the mental health and psychosocial support intervention pyramid’, which illustrates the broad network of actors whose collaboration should form a protective shield around children.
The foundation of this pyramid is security. Creating a safe and inclusive school environment for children is essential. Providing safety in learning spaces is the core of any psychosocial mental health intervention. A child who feels secure in their school is more likely to reach out to trusted adults for support. The next level of the pyramid involves the educational community, including parents, teachers, and close family members.
In every crisis, it is crucial to assess the available training and services to effectively target interventions. “It is vital to coordinate efforts at both local and national levels, based on the specific needs,” advised Akfer Karaoglan Kahilogullari, mental health expert at the World Health Organization (WHO), who worked in Türkiye after the 2023 earthquake.
Finally, the mental health of those who are supporting children is often overlooked. This includes parents, of course, but also the frontline workers who face distressing situations daily. Offering support to these individuals will help them better assist children on their journey to resilience. “If those who are helping children are also struggling and their distress is not addressed, they will be unable to provide the necessary support,” concluded Bertrand Bainvel.
Children’s rights as our compass
In these troubled times, when decades of progress are being challenged, the number of conflicts and humanitarian crises continues to rise, and millions of children live in poverty without access to basic services, children’s rights must remain our compass. In her closing speech, Heidy Rombouts, representing the Directorate General Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) at the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, made a heartfelt appeal for children’s rights.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child turns 35, yet it remains an essential tool, having “transformed the lives of millions of children.” That said, the reality we face today is stark: the overall trend is concerning. Despite the growing number of international human rights instruments, violations of children’s rights continue. Our focus must now shift to finding innovative solutions. The challenges are immense. The actors working on the ground must take into account every child’s voice, prioritize their participation, and offer responses that are tailored to their needs.
It is time, as Heidy Rombouts put it, “to move from words to action.” We must ensure that those who violate international laws are held accountable for their actions. Our efforts must center on child protection, with a strong commitment to securing their rights. To make this happen, aid organizations, field workers, UN bodies, development agencies, and humanitarian NGOs must collaborate, tear down the barriers between them, and unite around one common goal: protecting children’s rights. As Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians emphasized in her opening remarks: “We must act. Now.”
Endnotes:
[1] United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2024/384), United Nations, New York, 2023, available at: https://docs.un.org/en/S/2024/384.
[2] United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2023/363), United Nations, New York, 2024, available at: https://docs.un.org/S/2023/363.
[3] Peace Research Institute Oslo, Conflict Trends 1-2024, PRIO, Oslo, 2024, available at: https://www.prio.org/projects/1631.
[4] United Nations Children's Fund, Haiti’s Children Under Siege: The Staggering Rise of Child Recruitment by Armed Groups, UNICEF, New York, 2025, available at: https://www.unicef.org/haiti/en/press-releases/haitis-children-under-siege-staggering-rise-child-abuse-and-recruitment-armed-groups.
[5] United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (S/2024/292), United Nations, New York, 2024, available at: UN.
[6] United Nations Children’s Fund, The Climate-Changed Child: A Children’s Climate Risk Index Supplement, UNICEF, New York, November 2023, available at: https://www.unicef.org/reports/climate-changed-child.
[7] Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, Education Under Attack 2024, GCPEA, New York, 2024, available at: https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/eua_2024.pdf.
[8] United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2601 (2021) on children and armed conflict, United Nations, New York, 2021, available at: UN Digital Library.
[9] Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, Education Under Attack 2024, GCPEA, New York, 2024, available at: https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/eua_2024.pdf.
[10] United Nations Children’s Fund, The Coldest Year of the Rest of Their Lives: Protecting Children from the Escalating Impacts of Heatwaves, UNICEF, New York, October 2022, available at: https://www.unicef.org/reports/coldest-year-rest-of-their-lives-children-heatwaves.
[11] United Nations Children’s Fund, A Threat to Progress: Confronting the Effects of Climate Change on Child Health and Well-Being, UNICEF, New York, July 2024, available at: https://www.unicef.org/reports/threat-to-progress.
[12] Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, European Court of Human Rights, App. No. 53600/20, 9 April 2024, available at: HUDOC.
[13] United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Decision adopted by the Committee under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, concerning communication No. 108/2019, UN Doc. CRC/C/88/D/108/2019, 9 November 2021, available at: https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC%2FC%2F88%2FD%2F108%2F2019&Lang=en.
[14] United Nations General Assembly, Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change, UN Doc. A/RES/77/276, 4 April 2023, available at: UN Digital Library.
[15] Patten, P., Remarks at the Security Council Open Debate on Preventing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence through Demilitarization and Gender-Responsive Arms Control, United Nations, New York, 23 April 2024, available at: https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/statement/remarks-of-srsg-pramila-patten-at-the-security-council-open-debate-on-preventing-conflict-related-sexual-violence-through-demilitarization-and-gender-responsive-arms-control-new-yor/.
[16] United Nations Children’s Fund, When Numbers Demand Action: Confronting the global scale of sexual violence against children, UNICEF, New York, 2024, available at https://data.unicef.org/resources/when-numbers-demand-action/.
[17] United Nations Children’s Fund, The State of the World’s Children 2021: On My Mind – Promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health, UNICEF, New York, October 2021, available at: https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-worlds-children-2021.
[18] Charlson, F., van Ommeren, M., Flaxman, A., Cornett, J., Whiteford, H., & Saxena, S., New WHO prevalence estimates of mental disorders in conflict settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis, The Lancet, 2019, 394(10194), pp. 240-248, available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30934-1.