NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – According to a recent United Nations report, efforts worldwide to eradicate violence directed at children are still not on track to meet the 2030 goal. This assessment reviews two decades of advancements since the landmark UN study on violence against minors, emphasizing that ongoing issues such as conflict, forced displacement, climate-related threats, and digital abuse continue to leave millions of children vulnerable. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, compiled this latest review ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly.
The report indicates that nearly 19% of children globally are now residing in conflict zones, a significant increase from approximately 10% during the 1990s. By the end of 2024, conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children, a figure almost tripling the number recorded in 2010. These numbers include refugee children, asylum seekers, and internally displaced minors, underscoring the widespread disruption faced by children living in war-affected and insecure regions.
Climate-related hazards have also become a critical component of the worldwide child protection challenge, with roughly 1.1 billion children exposed to at least three concurrent climate risks. Almost every child encounters at least one climate-related threat, with over 4 million children experiencing six overlapping hazards such as drought, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms, according to UNICEF. These environmental shocks not only threaten their safety but also disrupt essential services like education, healthcare, and housing.
Digital Risks Broaden the Spectrum of Threats Confronting Children
The digital realm introduces additional safety concerns for minors worldwide, with approximately one in three internet users being under 18. The assessment cites figures indicating that over 300 million children are subjected to online sexual exploitation and abuse annually, and at least 1.2 million children had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes over the past year. Other dangers present in the digital environment include cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, exposure to harmful content, and recruitment by criminals.
A survey conducted in 2025 by M’jid’s office, involving responses from more than 30,000 children across different regions, revealed that 66% believed cyberbullying had increased, while half of the respondents lacked knowledge about where to report abuse or seek help. The report also raises concerns about hate speech, privacy breaches, and manipulated digital content, noting that artificial intelligence has introduced new forms of abuse through deepfakes and automated content generation, thereby intensifying the challenges faced by child protection systems.
The Report Calls for Enhanced Prevention and Accountability Measures
The assessment advocates for national strategies that prioritize prevention, protection, participation, and accountability, urging governments to enact stronger legislation against violence targeting children and to develop more effective data collection mechanisms. It further emphasizes the need for increased investment in child protection services and accessible channels for reporting abuse. Digital safety measures should incorporate robust privacy safeguards and controls across online platforms and artificial intelligence systems. Additionally, the report stresses giving children a substantial role in decisions that impact their safety and well-being.
As the global community approaches the 2030 deadline for ending violence against children, these findings highlight the urgency of accelerating efforts. M’jid has been serving in her role since July 2019 and has undertaken 65 visits at the country level, engaging with high-ranking officials across various levels of government. The report also estimates that the annual global economic cost of lost human capital due to mental health issues among children amounts to $393 billion. The assessment concludes that current progress remains insufficient to achieve the set international objectives.