UN Envoy Urges Protection of Children in War

A former child soldier adjusts his face mask at a UNICEF-supported transit center for children in Goma, in the DR Congo.

After three decades of its mandate to protect children caught up in war, the UN’s top advocate on the issue says prevention and protection must go hand in hand.

In an exclusive interview with UN News, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, reflected on the alarming rise in grave violations against children and the urgent need to safeguard their future.

“The recruitment and use of children is still one of the most widespread and devastating violations we face. In 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and armed groups, and those are only the verified cases,” Ms Frazier said, ahead of the international day against the use of child soldiers.

“Over the last 30 years, we have separated more than 220,000 children from armed groups,” she added.

Growing crisis across conflicts

Her office monitors around 26 conflict situations worldwide, and the data paints a grim picture.

“Violations are most prevalent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar,” she said.

“We are also seeing worrying trends in Sudan, where children are specifically targeted because they are seen as useful as border guards, workers or even fighters.”

Behind the figures, she stressed, are young lives permanently affected. “Each number in our report represents a child whose innocence has been interrupted,” she said.

From abduction to reintegration

Beyond documenting abuses, Ms Frazier’s office works directly with armed actors to secure the release of children and ensure their safe return home.

“One of the strengths of our mandate is that we can negotiate directly with armed groups for the handover of children,” she explained. “Once separated, UNICEF and our partners support their reintegration, ensuring they receive psychosocial care, access to education and the opportunity to reclaim their childhood.”

However, reintegration can be difficult. “Girls who return may be shunned by their communities, especially those who come back with children,” she said. “For societal reasons, some girls cannot be fully reintegrated and are considered ‘damaged goods’.”

Prevention and accountability

For Ms Frazier, prevention remains the ultimate goal.

“Prevention is better than cure,” she said. “Even in times of war, children must remain in school. When they are out of school, they become very vulnerable to recruitment, whether forced or not.”

Accountability is also critical. The Special Representative, who previously served as Malta’s ambassador to the UN and on the Security Council, pointed to recent prosecutions in national courts and at the International Criminal Court as important deterrents.

“One of the greatest tools of deterrence is justice and accountability,” she said. “When warlords or armed group leaders are prosecuted and sentenced for recruiting children, it sends a powerful message that this crime carries real consequences.”

Her determination is shaped by field experience, from meeting survivors of abductions by Boko Haram in Nigeria to listening to women once enslaved by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda.

“You hear about a 13-year-old girl holding her baby, and you realise how deeply conflict steals childhood,” she said.

The foundation of peace

“Children are the epitome of innocence,” Ms Frazier said. “They have not taken sides in any war, yet their childhood is disrupted. They should never be treated as collateral in conflict.”

She argued that lasting peace begins with protecting and empowering children.

“The sustainability of peace depends on children’s right to carry it forward. When they return from conflict, they must have access to education and the chance to be fully integrated into society, so they can aspire to become doctors, nurses, lawyers, politicians or engineers. That can only be achieved through education.”

She also highlighted her campaign, Prove It Matters, which invites children affected by war to send messages to leaders folded into origami doves, a symbol of peace.

As the interview concluded, Ms Frazier reiterated that education, justice and hope remain the pillars of a peaceful future.

“Children should be able to preserve their innocence even during times of conflict,” she said. “That is how we ensure a sustainable and peaceful world.”