Some 2,700 children killed in clashes in Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen
More than 8,500 children were used as soldiers in various conflicts last year around the world, and about 2,700 were killed , according to UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres ‘s annual report to the Security Council on Children and Armed Conflict.
The report covers killings, mutilations, child sexual abuse, abductions, recruitment, obstruction of access to aid and attacks on schools and hospitals.
The report confirmed violations against 19,379 children in 21 conflicts. Most were committed in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.
In 2020, 8,521 children were confirmed to have been used as soldiers, while 2,674 were killed and 5,748 wounded in various armed conflicts.
The report includes a blacklist of warring factions for international repatriation to pressure them to take measures to protect children. The list is in dispute, as diplomats have said Saudi Arabia and Israel have pushed for non-inclusion.
In particular, Israel has never been blacklisted, while Saudi Arabia was removed in 2020, several years after it found its place on the list of shame for the killings and injuries of children in Yemen. The list includes the military regime of Myanmar and the military forces of the regime of Damascus.
