NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations has issued a warning that worldwide efforts to combat violence against children are not on track to meet the 2030 target. This assessment marks two decades after the UN’s pivotal study on violence directed at children. A new progress report indicates that factors such as conflict, displacement, climate-related disasters, and digital abuse have increased the dangers to child protection. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, compiled this latest evaluation. The report will be reviewed during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly this month.
The report states that nearly 19% of children globally now reside in conflict zones, a significant rise from approximately 10% in the 1990s. By the end of 2024, conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children worldwide, nearly tripling the figure of about 17 million recorded in 2010. This includes refugee and asylum-seeking children, along with millions displaced within their own countries due to violence and conflict.
Climate-related hazards are further compounding risks for children worldwide. Almost half of all children, or 1.1 billion, are exposed to at least three overlapping climate threats. Nearly every child faces at least one such danger, according to UNICEF’s climate risk assessment for 2026. Over 4 million children are threatened by as many as six concurrent hazards, including drought, extreme heat, heatwaves, floods, fires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms.
Digital dangers intensify child protection issues
The UN assessment also highlights how digital spaces have expanded the range of threats against children. Roughly one in three internet users worldwide is under 18. Annually, over 300 million children experience online sexual exploitation and abuse, per UN data. During the past year, at least 1.2 million children reported that artificial intelligence had transformed their images into sexually explicit deepfakes. Additional risks include cyberbullying, fraud, identity theft, trafficking, and exposure to harmful content.
A 2025 survey conducted by M’jid’s office gathered insights from more than 30,000 children across all regions. Of these, 66% believed cyberbullying had increased. Half of the children surveyed did not know where or how to report cyberbullying or seek help. The report also points out threats like hate speech, privacy breaches, and criminal recruitment online. Emerging artificial intelligence tools have introduced new risks, including deepfakes, automated targeting, and manipulated digital content.
UN urges enhanced prevention and safeguarding measures
The report advocates for a unified strategy focused on prevention, protection, participation, and accountability. It recommends the development of national policies to eradicate all forms of violence against children, alongside stronger legal frameworks, improved data collection, and increased investment in child protection systems. The UN emphasizes the need for digital safety measures, including enhanced privacy and security protocols across online platforms and artificial intelligence technologies. It also promotes accessible reporting channels and meaningful child involvement in decisions impacting their safety.
Since becoming the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children in July 2019, M’jid has conducted 65 country visits and engaged with senior officials at various levels of government. Her interactions included meetings with 35 heads of state, heads of government or their deputies, along with 728 ministers and senior officials. The latest report estimates a global annual cost of $393 billion resulting from lost human capital linked to mental health issues among children. The assessment concludes that the goal of ending violence against children by 2030 remains unachieved.