NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Global efforts to eliminate violence against children remain off course for the 2030 deadline, according to a new United Nations assessment. The report reviews two decades of progress since the landmark UN study on violence against children. It says conflict, forced displacement, climate hazards and digital abuse continue to expose millions of children to harm. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, prepared the latest review for the 81st UN General Assembly.
Nearly 19% of children worldwide now live in conflict zones, the report says. That share stood near 10% during the 1990s. Conflict and violence had displaced 48.8 million children by the end of 2024. The total was almost three times the level recorded in 2010. It includes refugee children, asylum seekers and those displaced within their own countries. The figures underline the scale of disruption facing children in areas affected by war and insecurity.
Climate-related dangers have also become a major part of the global child protection challenge. About 1.1 billion children face at least three overlapping climate hazards. Almost every child encounters at least one form of climate risk. More than 4 million children face six overlapping hazards, according to UNICEF. Those dangers include drought, extreme heat, floods, wildfires, tropical storms and sand and dust storms. Climate shocks can also disrupt schooling, health care, housing and access to basic services.
Digital risks expand threats facing children
Online environments are creating additional protection concerns for children across the world. About one in three internet users is under the age of 18. More than 300 million children experience online sexual exploitation and abuse each year, according to figures cited in the assessment. At least 1.2 million children reported having their images altered into sexually explicit deepfakes during the previous year. Other digital risks include cyberbullying, identity theft, trafficking, harmful content and criminal recruitment.
A 2025 poll conducted by M’jid’s office collected responses from more than 30,000 children across all regions. Sixty-six percent said they believed cyberbullying had increased. Half of the children surveyed did not know where to report abuse or seek help. The report also lists hate speech, privacy violations and manipulated digital material among major concerns. Artificial intelligence has added new forms of abuse through deepfakes and automated content generation, increasing pressure on existing child safety systems.
Report urges stronger prevention and accountability
The assessment calls for national strategies that focus on prevention, protection, participation and accountability. It recommends stronger laws against violence targeting children and better systems for collecting reliable data. The report also urges greater investment in child protection services and accessible reporting channels. Digital safety measures should include stronger privacy controls and safeguards across online platforms and artificial intelligence systems. The review also supports giving children a meaningful role in decisions that affect their safety and well-being.
The latest findings come as governments face a narrowing window to meet the 2030 target for ending violence against children. M’jid has served in her role since July 2019 and has conducted 65 country-level visits. She has met senior officials across national and local governments during that period. The report also estimates a $393 billion annual global cost from lost human capital linked to mental health conditions among children. The assessment concludes that current progress remains insufficient to meet the global target.