Children Under Attack | UNICEF

Citizens everywhere can begin by not averting their gaze from children’s suffering, because it seems too distant or the politics of conflict too complex.

We must insist to national and international leaders that protecting children during armed conflict is the cornerstone of our shared humanity.

We must demand leadership which is prepared to act to prevent attacks and violence against children trapped in war zones.

Governments and all warring parties where conflicts rage must act to fulfil their obligations to protect children and enable access to specialized response services for children affected by violence.

Communities in conflict-affected areas must be supported to create protective environments for girls and boys.

Governments who support or who have influence over warring parties must use all their influence to insist children are protected according to the requirements of international law.

International peace and security institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and regional organizations can do more to prioritize the safety and well-being of children trapped in armed conflicts.

The international community can do more to support programmes which work to protect children from violence, abuse, and exploitation, and deliver the services needed to help children come through conflict with hope for a better future.

By protecting children from attacks in armed conflict, we keep hope alive, we begin to prepare children to shape peaceful futures for themselves and their countries. Acting together, we can turn back this deadly ‘new normal’ of attacks against children and preserve humanity.

Children cannot wait. We must act now.