"Children cannot wait. They count on the EU to reverse the situation."

Dear MEPs, dear colleagues - thank you for inviting UNICEF to this roundtable and for the opportunity to underline the importance of International Humanitarian Law as a bedrock to EU humanitarian aid for children. And this is at a time when it is increasingly clear, that children are coming under attack in conflicts across the world and are facing disruption or interruptions in life-saving support programmes due to financial cuts. We cannot accept this deadly new normal.

By almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record for children in conflict in UNICEF’s history—both in terms of the number of children affected and the level of impact on their lives. Over 473 million children—more than one in six globally—now live in areas affected by conflict^[3], with the world experiencing the highest number of conflicts since World War II^[4]. The percentage of the world’s children living in conflict zones has doubled—from around 10 per cent in the 1990s to almost 19 per cent today.^[5]

From Haiti to Myanmar, to the State of Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine and beyond, we cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world’s unchecked wars.

In the latest available data, the latest UN report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) presented in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution highlights a 21 percent increase in grave violations against children, with 32,990 grave violations verified- they include:

• the killing and maiming of 11,649 children, followed by the recruitment and use of 8,655 children,
• 5,205 incidents of the denial of humanitarian access,
• 2,491 Children were detained for actual or alleged association with armed groups
• 1,650 Attacks on schools and hospitals.

The situation for women and girls is particularly concerning, with widespread reports of rape and sexual violence in conflict settings. In Haiti, so far this year, there has been a 1,000 per cent increase in reported incidents of sexual violence against children.^[11]

Conflict and armed violence continue to be the primary drivers of hunger in numerous hotspots. Malnutrition among children in conflict zones has also risen to alarming levels.

Against this very bleak and alarming situation for children today and the overall security situation of the world tomorrow, in addition to calls to warring parties where conflicts rage, UNICEF is calling on global actors and principled humanitarian leaders like the EU, to step up its humanitarian diplomacy and take specific actions, as follows:

EU must use its influence over warring parties to insist children are protected according to the requirements of international law, reinforcing diplomatic efforts to prevent and end violations against children.

When it supports warring parties, the EU must ensure any support provided is consistent with international legal obligations to protect the lives and well-being of children in conflict, and hold perpetrators accountable.

The EU must urgently increase investment in programmes to protect children impacted by conflict, alongside investments in efforts to monitor and report on violations against children and advocacy to prevent and end them once and for all. An MFF with a child tracker and ringfencing humanitarian action is a step in the right direction.

Although the plight of children in conflict sometimes feels inevitable, it is not. There are plenty of reasons for hope.

The EU’s updated guidelines on children and armed conflict provide a strong framework for EU actions both from Brussels and through the EU Delegation. It needs to be urgently rolled out across situations of greatest concerns.

We refuse to accept this deadly new normal.

Children cannot wait. They count on the EU to reverse the situation.