The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, announced a significant and worrying increase in the number of children killed in international armed conflicts in 2023, revealing that the figures have tripled compared to the previous year. This announcement was made during his global update presented to the 56th session of the Human Rights Council.
Türk highlighted that the number of civilian deaths in armed conflicts has increased by 72%, with children being disproportionately affected. He described the daily killing of children and civilians as indicative of the belligerents’ disregard for the basic principles of international law. He pointed out multiple violations including the destruction of infrastructure, targeted shootings, bombings of hospitals, and the use of heavy artillery on civilian communities.
In his statement, Türk expressed his deep concern about the grave violations in Gaza, where over 3,000 children’s rights violations were verified. He emphasized that more than 120,000 people have been either injured or killed due to ongoing Israeli military actions, with a majority being women and children. Türk called for an immediate end to the blockage of humanitarian aid, which exacerbates the dire living conditions and exposes children to famine and food scarcity.
The dire circumstances are not limited to Gaza. Türk also referred to similar humanitarian crises affecting children in countries such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and Mali. His critique extended to the $40.8 billion humanitarian funding gap and the soaring international military expenditure in 2023.
Addressing the legal framework protecting children in conflicts, Türk underscored that their protection is enshrined in international humanitarian law, including the UN Charter and the Fourth Geneva Convention along with its associated protocols.
The High Commissioner concluded by advocating for an urgent return to peace, in alignment with the UN Charter and international law, to halt the escalating humanitarian crises and protect the youngest and most vulnerable victims of these conflicts.
For more detailed information, you can view the original statement from Türk here and read about the UN’s annual report on children and armed conflict here.