NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – A new United Nations report indicates that efforts worldwide to stop violence against children are falling behind schedule for the 2030 deadline. The document reflects on twenty years of progress since the landmark UN study on violence against children. It highlights ongoing threats such as conflict, forced displacement, climate-related hazards, and digital abuse that continue to endanger millions of young lives. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, prepared this latest report for the 81st UN General Assembly.
According to the report, nearly 19% of children globally now reside in conflict zones, up from about 10% in the 1990s. Displacement related to conflict and violence displaced 48.8 million children by the end of 2024. This figure is almost three times higher than the level in 2010. It includes refugee children, asylum seekers, and internally displaced kids. These numbers reveal the extensive disruption faced by children living in war-torn and insecure areas.
Climate change also significantly complicates child protection worldwide. Around 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards. Nearly every child faces at least one climate-related risk. More than 4 million children are affected by six simultaneous hazards, as reported by UNICEF. These dangers include droughts, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. Such climate shocks can interrupt schooling, healthcare, housing, and essential services.
Digital Risks Add New Challenges for Child Protection
The online world creates new threats for children everywhere. About one in three internet users is under 18. Each year, over 300 million children suffer from online sexual exploitation and abuse, the assessment states. At least 1.2 million children had their images altered into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year. Other risks include cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, harmful content, and criminal recruitment.
A 2025 survey by M’jid’s office gathered responses from more than 30,000 children across all regions. Sixty-six percent said they believed cyberbullying had risen. Half of the children did not know where to report abuse or seek help. The report also lists hate speech, privacy breaches, and manipulated digital content as major concerns. Artificial intelligence has introduced new forms of abuse through deepfakes and automated content, putting additional pressure on existing child safety systems.
The report calls for increased prevention efforts and accountability measures
It urges countries to develop strategies emphasizing prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. Stronger laws against violence targeting children and improved systems for reliable data collection are recommended. The report also advocates for increased investment in child protection services and accessible reporting channels. Digital safety should include enhanced privacy controls and safeguards on online platforms and AI systems. The review emphasizes giving children a genuine voice in decisions affecting their safety and well-being.
These findings come as governments face a limited window to reach the 2030 goal of ending violence against children. M’jid has held her role since July 2019 and has completed 65 country visits. She has engaged with senior officials at national and local levels. The report estimates that the global cost of lost human capital linked to mental health issues among children amounts to $393 billion annually. The assessment concludes that current efforts are still insufficient to meet the international target.