NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations has issued a warning that international efforts to eradicate violence against children are falling behind schedule for 2030. This assessment comes two decades after the landmark UN study on violence against children. The latest progress report highlights that conflicts, displacement, climate-related hazards, and digital abuse have all expanded risks to child protection. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, compiled this recent evaluation. The upcoming 81st UN General Assembly session will review the report this month.
According to the report, nearly 19% of children worldwide now reside in conflict zones, a significant increase from roughly 10% in the 1990s. By the end of 2024, conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children globally, nearly tripling the approximate 17 million displaced children recorded in 2010. This figure includes refugee and asylum-seeking children along with millions displaced within their own countries due to violence and conflict.
Climate-related risks are adding further danger for children worldwide. Almost half of all children, equivalent to 1.1 billion individuals, are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards. Nearly every child faces at least one such threat, according to UNICEF’s climate risk assessment for 2026. More than 4 million children are exposed to as many as six simultaneous hazards, which include drought, extreme heat, heatwaves, floods, fires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms.
Digital Threats Amplify Child Protection Concerns
The UN assessment also highlights that digital environments have broadened the range of dangers children face. Approximately one in three internet users worldwide is under 18. Data cited by the UN office indicates that over 300 million children each year are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse. During the past year alone, at least 1.2 million children reported that artificial intelligence had transformed their images into sexually explicit deepfakes. Other online threats include cyberbullying, fraud, identity theft, trafficking, and exposure to harmful content.
A 2025 survey conducted by M’jid’s office gathered responses from more than 30,000 children across all regions. Among them, 66% believed that cyberbullying had increased, and half of all children were unsure where or how to report such incidents or seek support. The report also points to online dangers such as hate speech, privacy breaches, and criminal recruitment. The emergence of artificial intelligence tools has introduced additional risks, including deepfakes, automated targeting, and manipulated digital content.
UN Urges Enhanced Prevention Strategies and Child Protection Measures
The report advocates for a unified strategy rooted in prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. Its recommendations include the development of national policies to eliminate all forms of violence against children, alongside legal bans, improved data collection, and increased investment in child protection infrastructure. The UN emphasizes that digital safety measures should encompass stronger privacy and security protocols across platforms and AI systems. Additionally, it supports accessible reporting mechanisms and meaningful child involvement in decisions that impact their safety.
Since July 2019, M’jid has served as the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children. During her tenure, she has conducted 65 country visits and engaged with high-ranking officials at both national and local levels. Her meetings included 35 heads of state, heads of government or their deputies, along with 728 ministers and senior officials. The latest report also estimates that the global economic cost of lost human capital due to mental health issues among children amounts to $393 billion annually. The UN assessment concludes that the 2030 goal to end violence against children is still not on track.