UN expert urges faster global action to end violence against children
Provpnmatrix.com – Global action to end violence against children is not keeping pace with the risks they face, a United Nations expert has warned. Conflict, displacement, poverty, food insecurity and growing digital threats are exposing millions of children to harm worldwide.
Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, made the appeal at UN Headquarters in New York after presenting her final report to the General Assembly. Her remarks came 20 years after the first UN global study on violence against children highlighted the scale of the problem.
“Almost 45 million children are displaced because of conflict, but also because of natural disasters, because of the climate crisis,”
Displacement can interrupt schooling, separate families from support networks and limit access to vital services. When several emergencies occur at once, governments and humanitarian organizations must meet urgent needs while maintaining long-term protection for children and their caregivers.
Risks are becoming more complex
Ms. M’jid said the world is facing interconnected pressures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. One in five children lives in extreme poverty, she noted, including in wealthier countries where cash transfers and other financial support have been provided.
Higher prices and food insecurity place additional pressure on families. In some countries, resistance to human rights protections is also making it harder to establish systems that prevent abuse and support children who have experienced violence.
Digital technology and artificial intelligence present both opportunities and dangers. These tools can be misused for child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, manipulated images and videos, and recruitment into criminal activity.
“The problem is our solutions are always lagging behind the risks.”
Global action to end violence must therefore address children’s safety at home, in schools, in communities and online. Families, educators and service providers need practical support before risks turn into harm.
Prevention remains possible
The 2006 UN study found that children can experience violence in every country and across many settings, including homes, schools and communities. Children and young people contributed to that landmark assessment, helping establish that violence against children is a worldwide concern.
Its message remains clear: violence against children is preventable and can never be justified. The principles were later reinforced through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which connects child protection with broader development goals.
“This landmark study really highlights two big principles: violence is always preventable and violence is never justifiable,”
Many countries have adopted laws and policies intended to strengthen child protection over the past two decades. However, legislation alone does not ensure that children and caregivers can obtain help, particularly where services are unavailable or difficult to access.
Effective global action to end violence requires political commitment, coordinated services, sufficient funding and protection systems built around children’s safety and well-being. These measures must work for families affected by poverty, displacement, discrimination and emergencies.
Children’s participation matters
Ms. M’jid highlighted progress in involving children and young people in discussions at every level. Their views can help decision-makers create safer schools, communities and online spaces because they understand directly how policy failures affect their lives.
She also pointed to the expansion of integrated services in different regions. Protecting children often requires connected support involving education, health care, social services and child-protection systems.
Frequently asked questions
Why is global action to end violence against children urgent?
Children face overlapping risks from conflict, climate-related disasters, poverty, food insecurity and digital harm. Protection efforts need to respond quickly and remain available over time.
What can communities do to help?
Communities can support accessible education, health, social and child-protection services, while ensuring children and young people are heard in decisions that affect their safety.
What is needed beyond stronger laws?
Countries need practical implementation: trained services, adequate funding, coordination across sectors and support that reaches children and caregivers when they need it.
