NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – A recent United Nations report indicates that worldwide efforts to combat violence against children are not on track to achieve the 2030 deadline. The document evaluates two decades of advancements since the groundbreaking UN study on violence directed at children. It highlights ongoing threats from conflict, forced displacement, climate-related disasters, and digital exploitation that continue to endanger millions of young lives. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, prepared this latest analysis for the 81st UN General Assembly.
According to the report, nearly 19% of children across the globe now reside in conflict zones, a significant rise from nearly 10% in the 1990s. By the end of 2024, conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children, almost tripling the figure recorded in 2010. The displaced include refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced children. These numbers underscore the widespread disruption faced by children living in areas affected by war and instability.
Climate-related risks have emerged as a key element in the global effort to safeguard children. Approximately 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards. Nearly every child is affected by at least one climate-related danger. Over 4 million children face six simultaneous hazards, according to UNICEF. These threats include drought, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. Such climate shocks can also interfere with education, healthcare, housing, and access to essential services.
Digital dangers expand the spectrum of threats confronting children
Digital environments are introducing new risks to children’s safety worldwide. Approximately one-third of internet users are under 18. Each year, over 300 million children are subjected to online sexual exploitation and abuse, as cited in the assessment. During the past year alone, at least 1.2 million children had their images altered into sexually explicit deepfakes. Additional digital risks include cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, exposure to harmful content, and recruitment by criminal groups.
A 2025 survey conducted by M’jid’s office gathered responses from over 30,000 children from all regions. Sixty-six percent of respondents believed that cyberbullying had increased. Half of the children did not know where to report abuse or seek assistance. The report also highlights hate speech, privacy breaches, and manipulated digital content as major concerns. The rise of artificial intelligence has introduced new forms of abuse, such as deepfakes and automated content creation, intensifying pressure on existing child protection systems.
Call for enhanced prevention measures and accountability mechanisms
The assessment advocates for national strategies emphasizing prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. It recommends stronger legislation against violence aimed at children along with improved systems for gathering reliable data. The report also emphasizes the need for increased investment in child protection services and accessible channels for reporting abuse. Digital safety should be reinforced through stronger privacy controls and safeguards on online platforms and artificial intelligence tools. Furthermore, the review stresses the importance of involving children meaningfully in decisions affecting their safety and well-being.
The latest findings arrive as governments face a diminishing window to meet the 2030 target of ending violence against children. Since taking on her role in July 2019, M’jid has conducted 65 country-level visits and engaged with senior officials across various levels of government. The report estimates that the annual global economic loss due to mental health conditions among children amounts to $393 billion in lost human capital. It concludes that current progress remains inadequate to reach the international goal.