Children do not start wars, yet they are most vulnerable to their deadly effects. Armed conflict kills and maims children, disrupts their education, denies them access to essential health services, increases poverty, malnutrition and disease. Conflict can also separate children from their parents, or force them to flee their homes, witness atrocities or even perpetrate war crimes themselves. Read more…


In the last decade, the plight of children affected by armed conflict has gained great visibility. While this increased attention to the problems of children in conflict has generally resulted in important advances to better protect them, many of the problems identified then are even graver today – and new challenges have emerged to test the world’s resolve to protect its children. Read more…


UNICEF and its partner agencies are dedicating a large proportion of their resources to addressing the social and economic inequalities that can lead to violence, emphasizing outreach to vulnerable groups – including girls, rural communities and the poor – combating marginalization, defusing tensions and promoting effective social integration. Read more…