International efforts to end violence against children are being outpaced by the risks they face, UN Special Representative Najat Maalla M’jid warned while briefing journalists in New York. Almost 45 million children are displaced by conflict, natural disasters and the climate crisis, while one in five lives in extreme poverty, including in wealthy countries. Rising prices, food insecurity and resistance to human rights in some countries compound these pressures. Rapid technological expansion, including artificial intelligence, brings opportunities but also facilitates child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, deepfakes and recruitment into criminal activities.
Her final report to the General Assembly coincided with the twentieth anniversary of the UN’s first global study on violence against children. Published in 2006, the study established that such violence occurs in every country and across settings, from homes and schools to communities. Its principles—that violence is preventable and never justifiable—were subsequently reaffirmed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite two decades of legal and policy reforms, implementation remains difficult, and children and caregivers still face barriers to accessing services. M’jid emphasised the need for political commitment backed by dedicated budgets and stronger, integrated support.
She also said the Pathfinding Global Alliance on Ending Violence against Children now has 55 member countries, with more expected. Launched in 2024, the state-led platform promotes peer learning, co-operation and the exchange of practices to translate commitments into action. Although youth participation has increased, protection efforts are not expanding quickly enough. Children and young people, she stressed, are already acting and remain essential to the solution.
