The roof of a professional school in Sumy, Ukraine, was destroyed after a Russian drone attack on September 11, 2025.
Nurphoto through Getty Images
Children bear the burden of relentless hostilities and inquisitive attacks and are influenced by the violation of foot cease and peace agreements. Attacks on children are a common war strategy and include the development of increasingly destructive weapons, the use of explosive weapons in residential areas and the systematic exploitation of children for battle. The effects of such attacks have long -term consequences, including lifelong disabilities, trauma, PTSDs and other psychological effects, including. Last year there has been a sharp increase in attacks on schools in conflict zones around the world, resulting in death, abduction and trauma of thousands of teachers and students. Attacks on such political objects, such as schools, dramatically increased children’s vulnerability.
According to the United Nations, more than 41,000 cases of violence against school age were reported in 2024. International Day for Education ProtectionOn September 9, the Secretary -General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said: “The last 12 months have seen a stunning 44% increase in school attacks, resulting in death, abduction and trauma of thousands of teachers and students.
The increase in school attacks is in line with other serious violations committed against children in conflict. Among other things, as indicated in 2025 Annual report The Secretary -General for Children and Armed Conflicts, in 2024, documented 41,370 serious violations against children, including 22,495 children killed, canceled, denied humanitarian access or recruited by armed forces and groups. That year, there was a sharp increase in 34% in reported cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence committed against children. In addition, the number of children victims of multiple serious violations increased by 17% through convergence of abduction, recruitment and use and sexual violence.
As mentioned by the UN, the highest number of serious violations was verified in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory (8,554), in the Democratic Republic of Congo (4,043), in Somalia (2,568), in Nigeria (2,436) and 2,269. While non -state armed groups are said to be responsible for nearly 50% of serious violations, government forces were the main perpetrators of the assassination and taking of children, school attacks and hospitals and the refusal of humanitarian access. According to the UN, the denial of humanitarian access has reached alarming scale, with more humanitarian workers, including United Nations, who were killed in 2024 than ever.
Looking at the impact of attacks on children in various conflicts, the UN said that, for example, in Gaza, about 660,000 children remain out of school and the classrooms have been converted into shelters. In Ukraine, 5.3 million children face obstacles to education. About 115,000 is completely out of school due to the ongoing war. About 1,850 facilities have been destroyed by the beginning of the conflict.
According to International Humanitarian Law, schools are protected by political objects. As a result, they benefit from the humanitarian principles of distinction and proportionality.
On May 22, 2014, the special representative for children and armed conflicts started one Guidance Note on attacks on schools and hospitalsTo help all those involved in monitoring and reporting are equipped with the best tools to end and prevent attacks on schools and hospitals. In May 2025, the declaration of safe schools was adopted, a political commitment of governments to protect schools during conflict. The statement has been approved by 121 statesIncluding 16 countries for children and the armed agenda of conflict (such as Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Congo People’s Republic, Iraq, Nigeria, the state of Palestine and Sudan, among others). However, these violations remain in countries that are committed to protecting schools.
With the ever -increasing number of attacks on schools worldwide, it is the key to review that all parties to conflict anywhere in the world are obliged in accordance with international law to respect schools as areas of security and to be responsible for those responsible for the attacks.
