For a better life for children

Although they are the future of the world, many children are suffering from pain and loss due to devastating conflicts, the worsening effects of climate change, and increasing poverty. In this context, the World Conference on Children's Rights, held at the Vatican on February 3, called on countries and international organisations to join hands in building a better life for millions of children.

Children in a classroom in Omdurman, Sudan.

Holding her less-than-nine-month-old baby in her arms, Rasha, a mother in Sudan, anxiously shared that ongoing conflicts have forced her family to frequently flee their home to escape violence. Long journeys lasting several days in harsh weather conditions have become all too familiar for Rasha’s family and are among the reasons that her son’s health has been deteriorating.

The United Nations estimates that in war-torn and famine-stricken Sudan, around 3.2 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition in 2025. UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasised that Sudan is experiencing the world's largest child displacement crisis, with five million children left homeless due to the conflict. Most of them fled their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs, with many having to walk continuously for about 20 days to reach refugee camps in search of food and basic shelter.

Not only in Sudan, millions of children have been being deprived of their basic rights in many places around the world. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), more than 9 million children across Ethiopia are unable to go to school due to natural disasters and human-caused crises. In Syria, around 50% of school-age children have missed out on education as the conflict in the Middle Eastern country has persisted for nearly 14 years. Rasha Muhrez, Director of Save the Children in Syria, stated that approximately 7.5 million Syrian children urgently need humanitarian assistance, with at least 50% requiring psychological treatment to overcome trauma and emotional distress caused by the conflict.

Experts noted that conflict is one of the main reasons why the lives of many children, especially in Africa, have fallen into tragedy. According to the Wall Street Journal, Africa is entering an unprecedented era of instability, with the highest number of armed conflicts since 1946. Data from Uppsala University (Sweden) and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (Norway) shows that in 2024 alone, 28 conflicts have occurred in 16 out of 54 African countries — double the number from 15 years ago. This figure does not include inter-community conflicts, which have also doubled since 2010. The consequences of these conflicts are extremely severe, with children being the most vulnerable, bearing the brunt of losses on the front lines.

Despite facing many challenges, it is undeniable that the world has achieved significant progress in efforts to care for and protect children's rights. UNICEF affirms that this progress is marked by numerous achievements in 2024. Last year, Tajikistan became the 67th country in the world to ban all forms of physical discipline against children. In the European Union (EU), member states have implemented concrete measures to realise the goals set by the "European Child Rights" initiative, ensuring children's access to education, healthcare, adequate nutrition, and suitable housing. Moreover, in today's era of booming social media, efforts to protect children from online dangers have also been intensified. Notably, Australia became the first country in the world to pass a law banning children under 16 from using social media.

To build on these achievements, the World Meeting on Children's Rights, under the theme "Love Them and Protect Them", has called on nations and international organisations to redouble their efforts to bring smiles to children's faces while shielding them from the cycles of conflict, climate change, violence, and poverty.

NDO