UN Official Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Children in Conflict Zones
The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, has strongly criticized the international community for not doing enough to protect children in conflict zones.
In a powerful statement on New Year’s Eve, Gamba emphasized that the suffering of children is often ignored, and their pain leaves a permanent mark on humanity’s conscience. She urged the world to act more swiftly to prevent more children from becoming victims of war.
Gamba highlighted the disturbing rise in the recruitment of children by armed groups in countries such as Colombia, Sudan, Haiti, and the Sahel.
In 2024, killing and injuring children, along with attacks on schools and hospitals, are expected to become two of the most common violations in war zones. Tragically, children make up 30% of the victims of landmines and explosive devices in places like Gaza and Sudan.
She called for immediate action, urging the international community to provide safe humanitarian access for children, enforce international laws protecting children, and ban harmful weapons such as landmines.
Gamba ended her statement by calling for a world where compassion triumphs over indifference, and peace replaces war, reminding everyone that the wishes of children matter and they deserve a future free from violence.
