The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk declared in a statement that the number of children killed in international armed conflicts tripled in 2023, as he presented his global update to the 56th session of the Human Rights Council on Tuesday.
The UN human rights chief started his speech by stating that the number of civilian deaths in armed conflicts increased by 72 percent in 2023, among which the number of children killed tripled compared to 2022. Türk said that he was “dismayed by the extent to which warring parties have pushed beyond the boundaries of what is acceptable – and legal – on many fronts, with utter contempt for the other, trampling human rights at their core”.
Volker Türk denounced the fact that the killing of children and civilians has become a daily practice. In his statement, he enumerated the multiple violations of international law committed by belligerents. This includes the destruction of vital infrastructure, the shooting of children, the bombing of hospitals and the use of heavy artillery on entire communities in addition to the spread of “hateful”, “divisive” and “dehumanizing” speech.
Türk further added that he was “appalled” by the violation of international humanitarian law and the situation of children in Gaza, where more than 3,000 grave children’s rights violations were verified according to the UN’s annual report on children and armed conflict. The UN human rights chief asserted that over 120,000 people have been injured or killed because of Israeli offensives, with the majority of the victims being women and children. He also called for the immediate end of the “arbitrary denial and obstruction of humanitarian aid” to Gaza which worsens the living conditions of Palestinian children and exposes them to famine and food scarcity. Türk also referred to the unbearable humanitarian situation of children in countries going through armed conflicts such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
Moreover, the UN human rights chief pointed out the “gap” of $40.8 billion between humanitarian funding requirements and the available resources, which contrasted with the “steep increase” in international military expenditure in 2023. Volker Türk stressed the necessity of putting an end to the ongoing suffering of children living through armed conflicts and wars. “We must urgently find our way back to peace, in line with the UN Charter and international law,” he said.
The protection of children in armed conflicts is guaranteed by the UN Charter and international humanitarian law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention and the additional protocols of 1977 and 2005.
Additional Protocol I to the Fourth Geneva Convention forbids indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations and the destruction of food, water and other materials needed for survival. Protocol II prohibits acts of murder and cruel treatment, terrorism, hostage-taking, slavery, outrages on personal dignity, collective punishment and pillage for all people, including children. It also forbids attacks on civilians and “objects indispensable to civilian survival” such as crops, irrigation systems or drinking water sources, cultural objects, and places of worship. Article 18 of the same protocol states that impartial humanitarian relief organizations, such as the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) must be allowed to pursue their humanitarian services.
