NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – According to a recent United Nations report, nearly 19% of children worldwide now live in conflict zones, a significant increase from close to 10% in the 1990s. The assessment highlights that conflict, forced displacement, climate-related threats, and digital abuse continue to endanger millions of young lives. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, authored this latest review for the 81st UN General Assembly, reflecting on over twenty years of progress since the landmark UN study on violence against children.
As of the end of 2024, conflict and violence have displaced 48.8 million children, nearly tripling the number recorded in 2010. This figure includes refugee children, asylum seekers, and internally displaced minors, underscoring the widespread upheaval affecting children caught in war and insecurity zones.
Climate-related risks now form a critical component of the global child protection challenge. The report states that around 1.1 billion children face at least three overlapping climate hazards, with nearly every child exposed to at least one climate-related threat. According to UNICEF, over 4 million children are affected by six concurrent hazards, such as drought, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. These climate shocks can also interfere with education, healthcare, housing, and access to essential services.
Expansion of Digital Threats Poses New Challenges for Child Safety
The digital realm introduces additional risks for children around the globe. Approximately one in three internet users is under 18. The assessment cites data indicating that over 300 million children are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse annually. Additionally, at least 1.2 million children had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year. Other dangers encompass cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, exposure to harmful content, and criminal recruitment.
A survey conducted in 2025 by M’jid’s office gathered responses from more than 30,000 children worldwide. Of these, 66% believed that cyberbullying had grown worse. Half of the respondents were unaware of where to report abuse or seek assistance. The report also highlights concerns about hate speech, privacy breaches, and manipulated digital content. The rise of artificial intelligence has introduced new abuse methods like deepfakes and automated content creation, adding pressure to existing child protection mechanisms.
Call for Enhanced Prevention, Legal Measures, and Child Participation
The review advocates for national strategies emphasizing prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. It recommends enacting stronger legislation against violence targeting children and improving data collection systems for reliable information. The report also emphasizes the need for increased investment in child protection services and establishing accessible reporting channels. To ensure digital safety, the report calls for robust privacy controls and safeguards on online platforms and AI systems. It also stresses the importance of involving children in decision-making processes concerning their safety and well-being.
These findings come as governments face a limited window to meet the 2030 deadline for ending violence against children. M’jid has been in her role since July 2019 and has conducted 65 country-level visits, engaging with senior officials across various levels of government. The report estimates that the annual global cost of lost human capital due to mental health issues among children amounts to $393 billion. Overall, the assessment concludes that current efforts are insufficient to achieve the global target.