NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – According to a recent United Nations report, worldwide efforts to eradicate violence against children are not on track to meet the 2030 deadline. The document examines two decades of advancements since the historic UN study on violence affecting minors. It highlights that conflict, forced displacement, climate-related risks, and digital abuse continue to threaten the safety of millions of children. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, authored the latest review for the 81st UN General Assembly.
The report states that nearly 19% of children globally now reside in conflict zones, a significant increase from roughly 10% during the 1990s. By the end of 2024, conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children, almost tripling the figure recorded in 2010. These numbers include refugee children, asylum seekers, and those displaced within their own countries, emphasizing the profound disruption faced by children living in war-torn and insecure regions.
Climate-related threats have also become a crucial component of the global child protection challenge. Approximately 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards. Nearly every child encounters at least one climate-related risk. According to UNICEF, over 4 million children face six concurrent hazards, including drought, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. Such climate shocks often disrupt education, healthcare, housing, and access to essential services.
Digital Dangers Compound Threats to Children’s Safety
Children’s protection is increasingly challenged in online spaces, which account for a significant part of the digital landscape. Roughly one in three internet users is under 18. The assessment notes that more than 300 million children are subjected to online sexual exploitation and abuse annually. In the past year alone, at least 1.2 million children had their images altered into sexually explicit deepfakes. Additional digital threats include cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, harmful content, and recruitment by criminals.
A 2025 survey conducted by M’jid’s office gathered responses from over 30,000 children worldwide. Sixty-six percent of respondents believed cyberbullying had increased. Half of the children surveyed were unaware of where to report abuse or seek help. The report also highlights hate speech, privacy breaches, and manipulated digital content among key concerns. The emergence of artificial intelligence has introduced new abuse vectors through deepfakes and automated content, intensifying pressure on existing child safety mechanisms.
Call for Enhanced Prevention Strategies and Accountability Measures
The report advocates for national frameworks emphasizing prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. It recommends enacting stronger legislation against violence directed at children and improving data collection systems for better reliability. Greater investment in child protection services and accessible reporting channels is also urged. Safety measures for the digital realm should include robust privacy controls and safeguards on online platforms and AI systems. The review emphasizes the importance of involving children actively in decisions impacting their safety and well-being.
These latest findings arrive as governments are faced with a limited window to achieve the 2030 target of ending violence against children. M’jid has held her position since July 2019, conducting 65 country-level visits and engaging with senior officials across various levels of government during this period. The report estimates that the global annual cost due to lost human capital related to children’s mental health issues amounts to $393 billion. Overall, the assessment concludes that current progress is insufficient to reach the global goal.