NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations issued a warning that global initiatives to eliminate violence against children are not progressing as planned for 2030. This evaluation comes two decades after the groundbreaking UN analysis on violence affecting children. A recent progress report indicates that conflict, displacement, climate-related threats, and digital abuse have intensified risks to child protection. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, authored this latest review. The report will be discussed during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly later this month.
According to the report, nearly 19% of children worldwide now reside in conflict zones, compared to approximately 10% in the 1990s. By the conclusion of 2024, conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children globally, a figure almost tripling the roughly 17 million recorded in 2010. This number includes refugee and asylum-seeking children, as well as millions displaced within their own countries due to violence and conflict.
Climate-related hazards are adding further danger to children across the globe. Almost half of all children, or 1.1 billion, face at least three simultaneous climate threats. Nearly every child is exposed to at least one such hazard, as reported in UNICEF’s 2026 climate risk assessment. Over 4 million children are threatened by as many as six overlapping dangers. These hazards encompass drought, extreme heat, heatwaves, floods, fires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms.
Digital vulnerabilities amplify child safety challenges
The UN assessment also highlights that digital environments have expanded the scope of threats faced by children. About one in three internet users worldwide is under 18. Annually, more than 300 million children experience online sexual exploitation and abuse, according to data cited by the UN office. Additionally, at least 1.2 million children have reported that artificial intelligence caused their images to be manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year. Other online risks include cyberbullying, fraud, identity theft, trafficking, and exposure to harmful content.
A 2025 survey conducted by M’jid’s office involved responses from over 30,000 children from all regions. Sixty-six percent of respondents believed cyberbullying had grown worse. Furthermore, half of the children surveyed were unaware of how or where to report cyberbullying or seek support. The report also highlights threats like hate speech, privacy breaches, and criminal recruitment online. Emerging artificial intelligence tools have introduced new risks involving deepfakes, automated targeting, and digital content manipulation.
UN urges enhanced prevention measures and protective policies
The report advocates for a coordinated strategy centered on prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. Its recommendations include the development of national policies to eradicate all types of violence against children. It also emphasizes the need for legal bans, improved data gathering, and increased investment in child protection infrastructure. The UN suggests that digital safeguards should incorporate stronger privacy protections and safety features across platforms and artificial intelligence systems. Additionally, it supports the implementation of accessible reporting channels and meaningful child engagement in decisions impacting their safety.
Since July 2019, M’jid has held the role of UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children. During her tenure, she has undertaken 65 country visits and engaged with senior officials from national and local governments. Her interactions have involved 35 heads of state, heads of government, or their deputies, along with 728 ministers and senior officials. The latest report also estimates that the annual global economic loss attributable to mental health-related human capital depletion among children amounts to $393 billion. The UN assessment concludes that the 2030 target to eliminate violence against children remains unlikely to be achieved on schedule.
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