The United Nations has reported that 2023 saw the highest number of violations against children in nearly a decade. Virginia Gamba, the U.N.’s special representative for children, informed the Security Council that the U.N. verified 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children in 2023.

Gamba detailed that the violations included the killing and maiming of children, recruitment and use of children in conflicts, denial of humanitarian access, and abductions. The U.N. report revealed that 5,301 children were killed and another 6,348 injured, marking a 35% increase over previous years.

The report also highlighted a surge in the recruitment and use of children, with 8,655 cases verified in 2023, 15% of which involved girls who also suffered multiple violations while being recruited or used. Additionally, child abductions remained alarmingly high, with 4,356 child victims verified during the year.

“Let me remind all warring parties, when they resort to armed force, in contradiction with the Charter of the United Nations, they cannot do so at the cost of the lives and wellbeing of children,” Gamba stated. “Let me be clear: there is no excuse for harming children during armed conflict.”