More than a century ago, the founder of Save the Children, Eglantyne Jebb spoke these words: “All wars, whether just or unjust, disastrous or victorious, are waged against the child”. They resonate with even greater urgency today, as conflict rages on with flagrant disregard for children’s rights and protection.
It is witnessed by the Syrian child whose home was destroyed by shelling, and whose friends were killed when an airstrike hit her school. It is witnessed by the Sudanese child who can no longer attend school because it has been turned into a military outpost. It is witnessed by Ukrainian children, who were forced to hide underground for an average of more than one month in the first year of full-scale war. And it is witnessed by the Malian child who was forcibly recruited into an armed group as a messenger.
Almost one in five children globally is now living in or fleeing conflict zones. In 2023, child humanitarian needs have soared. There were a record 27,638 verified grave violations against children in 2022—an alarming 13% increase from 2021. The denial of humanitarian access is on the rise, making it difficult for children to receive lifesaving aid and necessary services.
The climate crisis is further threatening children’s lives and futures, fuelling cycles of conflict and hunger. In many conflict zones children are increasingly exposed to the use of explosive weapons – rockets, mortars, grenades, mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This contributes to an increasing incidence of blast injuries. The establishment of the Centre for Paediatric Blast Injury Studies was driven by the profound impact of these injuries on children.
Even wars must have limits.
War is putting children at risk as never before. Millions of children continue to be among the principal victims of serious violations of human rights and crimes under international law, their rights routinely violated. At the same time, crimes against children are under-reported, under-investigated and under-prosecuted and international criminal justice mechanisms, have not listened enough to their voices or their experiences. Therefore, we actively support and provide guidance on children's access to justice, seeing it as a crucial step in recognizing the wrongs they have suffered and breaking cycles of violence.
Our commitment extends to pushing for governments around the world to make sure that children caught up in conflict are protected. States and armed actors must uphold standards of conduct in conflict, hold perpetrators of violations to account and take practical action to help children on the ground.
Advocating for change, we call for the endorsement and implementation of the ‘Safe Schools Declaration’, endorsing a political declaration committing to the avoidance of explosive weapons in populated areas that have such terrible impacts on children and champion accountability for grave violations of children’s rights in armed conflict.
Operating as part of a movement that works in 120 countries, our department designs and implements change-making strategies. We use all our skills to combine lobbying, policy, research, campaigning and media into one agile, powerful engine for change.
Our current focus is on protecting children in conflict in the occupied Palestinian territory, Yemen, Syria, Ukraine, Myanmar, Afghanistan, the Sahel and other crises.
We aim to expand the collaborative space for humanitarians, civil society, local communities, defence actors, researchers, medics, media, and private sector professionals to raise awareness of the impact of conflict and crises on children and to create solutions for strengthening their protection.
