Stronger action is needed to uphold children’s rights in a world where they are increasingly under threat due to conflicts, rising poverty and climate impacts, the head of the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, recently said. 

Catherine Russell made the appeal in a statement to mark World Children’s Day, which commemorates the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. 

“At no time since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted 34 years ago have children’s rights been in greater jeopardy,” she said on 20 November.

Children in the crosshairs 

Although the 1989 treaty acknowledges that all boys and girls have inalienable rights which governments promised would be protected and upheld, “unfortunately, children today are living in a world that is increasingly hostile to their rights,” she said.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the experience of children impacted by conflicts. UNICEF estimates that some 400 million - roughly one in five - are living in or fleeing conflict zones.

“Many are being injured, killed, or sexually violated. They are losing family members and friends. And some are being recruited and used by armed forces or groups,” said Ms. Russell.

She added that many have been displaced multiple times, risking separation from their families, losing critical years of education, and fraying ties to their communities.

One billion face climate risk

Furthermore, it was “deeply troubling” that this coincides with other threats to children’s rights including rising poverty and inequality, public health emergencies, and the climate crisis.

Globally, more than one billion children currently live in countries that are at ‘extremely high risk’ from the impacts of climate change, according to UNICEF. 

“This means half the world’s children could suffer irreparable harm as our planet continues to warm,” said Ms. Russell.

‘Children need peace, now’

Ms. Russell called for stronger advocacy towards the fulfillment and protection of children’s rights, including through supporting the alignment of national legal frameworks with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ensuring accountability for violations wherever they occur.

Secretary-General António Guterres put it plainly on social media: “Children need peace, now.” 

Read the full article on UN News.