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monitors remains a challenge. The report presents trends and patterns of v iolations,
and engagement with parties responsible for violations that might lead to behavioural
change, including promotion of accountability and compliance with child protection
provisions in peace processes. In the report, it is noted that attacks or th reats of attacks
against community and civic leaders, on human rights defenders and on monitors of
violations against children are a cause for concern and a strain on the monitoring
capacity.
3.
Pursuant to Security Council resolution 1612 (2005), my Special Representative
for Children and Armed Conflict adopted a pragmatic approach to promote broad and
effective protection for children. Reference to a situation is not a legal determination,
and reference to a non-State actor does not affect its legal status. Accordingly, the
report documents situations in which apparent violations of international norms and
standards are of such gravity as to warrant international concern, given their impact
on children. My Special Representative brings these situations to the attention of
Governments, which bear the primary responsibility for protecting children, in order
to encourage them to take remedial measures. Where measures undertaken by listed
parties had a positive impact on children or where ongoing conduct is of concern, this
is highlighted. On the basis of enhanced engagement with parties, the annexes
distinguish between listed parties that have put in place measures aimed at improving
the protection of children during the reporting period and those that have not.
II. Situation of children and armed conflict
A.
Overview of trends and patterns
4.
In 2022, children continued to be disproportionately affected by armed conflict,
and the number of children verified as affected by grave violations increased
compared with 2021. The United Nations verified 27,180 grave violations, of which
24,300 were committed in 2022 and 2,880 were committed earlier but verified only
in 2022. Violations affected 18,890 children (13,469 boys, 4,638 girls, 783 sex
unknown) in 24 situations and one regional monitoring arrangement. The highest
numbers of violations were the killing (2,985) and maiming (5,655) of 8,631 children,
followed by the recruitment and use of 7,622 children and the abduction of 3,985
children. Children were detained for actual or alleged association with armed groups
(2,496), including those designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations, or for
national security reasons.
5.
My Special Representative and the United Nations made progress in engaging
with parties to protect children in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic,
Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Israel and the State of
Palestine, Nigeria, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen. Engagement with parties to
conflict resulted in positive changes for children. More than 12,460 children formerly
associated with armed forces or groups received protection or reintegration support
during 2022.
6.
Multidimensional conflicts, including across regions, chronic crises and new
armed actors have had an adverse impact on children’s lives. Hostilities spreading
into new areas contributed to an increase in grave violations of 140 per cent in
Myanmar. The splintering of armed groups and intercommunal violence affected
children, contributing to a 135 per cent increase in grave violations in South Sudan.
An upsurge in the activity of armed groups, including those designated by the United
Nations as terrorist groups, caused severe deterioration of the situation in the central
Sahel, in particular in Burkina Faso, leading to an 85 per cent increase in grave
violations. Grave violations also increased in Colombia, Israel and the State of
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