NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Efforts on a global scale to eradicate violence against children are falling short of the 2030 goal, according to a recent United Nations evaluation. This report examines two decades of advancements since the historic UN study on violence targeting young people. It emphasizes that ongoing conflicts, displacement, climate-related threats, and digital dangers continue to put millions of children at risk. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, prepared this latest review for the 81st UN General Assembly.
The report states that nearly 19% of children globally now reside in conflict zones, a significant rise from approximately 10% in the 1990s. As of the end of 2024, conflict and violence have displaced 48.8 million children worldwide, nearly tripling the number recorded in 2010. These figures encompass refugee children, asylum seekers, and internally displaced youth, highlighting the extensive upheaval faced by children living in areas affected by war and insecurity.
Climate-related risks have also emerged as a major obstacle in safeguarding children worldwide. Around 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three concurrent climate hazards. Nearly all children face at least one climate-related threat, with over 4 million experiencing six overlapping dangers, according to UNICEF. Such hazards include drought, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. These climate shocks frequently disrupt essential services such as education, healthcare, shelter, and access to basic needs.
Digital threats add to the challenges confronting children
The rise of online environments presents new safety concerns for children everywhere. Approximately one-third of internet users are under 18. The assessment cites that more than 300 million children suffer from online sexual exploitation and abuse annually. During the past year alone, at least 1.2 million children had their images altered into sexually explicit deepfakes. Other digital risks include cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, exposure to harmful content, and criminal recruitment efforts.
A 2025 survey conducted by M’jid’s office gathered input from over 30,000 children across various regions. Sixty-six percent of respondents believed cyberbullying had increased. Half of the children surveyed were unaware of where to report abuse or seek assistance. The report also highlights concerns related to hate speech, privacy violations, and manipulated digital content. The emergence of artificial intelligence has introduced new abuse vectors, such as deepfakes and automated content creation, intensifying the strain on existing child protection mechanisms.
The report advocates for enhanced prevention efforts and accountability measures
The evaluation emphasizes the need for national strategies centered on prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. It recommends implementing stronger legal frameworks against violence targeting children and establishing improved systems for gathering accurate data. Additionally, it calls for increased investment in child protection services and accessible channels for reporting abuse. Online safety measures should involve robust privacy protections and safeguards on digital platforms and AI systems. The review also underscores the importance of involving children actively in decisions that impact their safety and overall well-being.
These latest findings come at a critical moment as governments face a diminishing window to achieve the 2030 target of eliminating violence against children. Since assuming her role in July 2019, M’jid has conducted 65 country-level visits and met with senior officials at both national and local levels. The report also estimates a global annual cost of $393 billion attributable to lost human capital resulting from mental health issues among children. Overall, the assessment concludes that current progress remains inadequate to meet the global objective.