The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict serves as the leading United Nations advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.
The mandate was created by the General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/51/77 following the publication in 1996 of the Graça Machel report, “Impact of Armed Conflict on Children”. This landmark study highlighted the disproportionate impact of war on children and recognized them as the primary victims of armed conflict.
Since then, the mandate has become a central pillar of the United Nations system to strengthen the protection of children in conflict situations worldwide.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict is responsible for strengthening the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raising global awareness, and promoting the systematic collection of information on grave violations.
The mandate fosters international cooperation and engages with governments, United Nations entities, and regional organizations to improve the protection of children in conflict zones.
Each year, the Special Representative reports to the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. She also brings attention to the situation of children in armed conflict before the Security Council and other political bodies, ensuring sustained political engagement and accountability.
Since 1999, the United Nations Security Council has progressively strengthened its engagement on children and armed conflict, recognizing it as an issue directly linked to international peace and security.
The Council has developed a robust framework that enables the United Nations to monitor, verify, and report violations against children in armed conflict. This includes the systematic inclusion of the issue in the Secretary-General’s annual report.
The Security Council also supports engagement with parties to conflict, including governments and non-state armed groups, to encourage compliance and accountability through structured dialogue and action plans.
The Children and Armed Conflict mandate monitors and reports on the six grave violations committed against children in situations of armed conflict.
The six grave violations are the most serious abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict and form the foundation of the United Nations Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate.
Since 2005, the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) has systematically documented these violations to inform action by the Secretary-General, the Security Council, and other stakeholders to protect children.
The six grave violations are: killing and maiming, recruitment and use, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
Killing and maiming of children is one of the six grave violations monitored under the United Nations Children and Armed Conflict mandate.
It is prohibited under international humanitarian and human rights law, and patterns of these violations can lead to parties to conflict being listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict. Despite these legal protections, children continue to be killed and injured in armed conflicts through military operations, explosive weapons, landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other forms of violence.
In 2025, killing and maiming was the most prevalent grave violation verified by the United Nations under the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate, affecting 14,224 children, including 6,266 killed and 7,958 maimed.
(Trigger for listing)
The recruitment and use of children is one of the six grave violations monitored under the United Nations Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate. Children may be recruited or used in combat or support roles, including as fighters, porters, spies, cooks, or for sexual purposes, exposing them to severe physical and psychological harm.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 7,402 cases of child recruitment and use, making it the second most prevalent grave violation against children in armed conflict.
(Trigger for listing)
Sexual violence against children is one of the six grave violations monitored under the United Nations Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate. It is prohibited under international law and has devastating physical, psychological, and social consequences for girls and boys, who may be subjected to rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and other forms of sexual violence.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 1,982 cases of sexual violence against children in armed conflict.
(Trigger for listing)
Child abduction is recognized by the United Nations as one of the six grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict. Children may be seized to facilitate recruitment, sexual violence, forced labor, detention, or other forms of exploitation, often exposing them to multiple and overlapping abuses.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 4,573 cases of child abduction in armed conflict.
(Trigger for listing)
Schools and hospitals are protected under international law, yet they are frequently damaged, destroyed, or rendered inaccessible during armed conflict, putting children's rights to education and healthcare at risk. Attacks on these facilities, as well as their military use or forced closure, are recognized by the United Nations as one of the six grave violations against children in armed conflict.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 2,157 attacks on schools and hospitals.
(Trigger for listing)
Humanitarian access is essential to ensure that children affected by armed conflict receive life-saving assistance, including food, water, healthcare, and protection services. The denial of humanitarian access, including restrictions on aid delivery and attacks against humanitarian workers, is recognized by the United Nations as one of the six grave violations against children in armed conflict.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 1,277 incidents of denial of humanitarian access affecting children in situations of armed conflict.
The Security Council adopted resolutions to request the UN:
- to gather and verify information detailing where and how children are affected by armed conflict;
- to use this information in the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict presented to the Security Council;
- to name parties to conflict who commit violations that are triggers for listing;
- to engage in dialogue with listed Governments and armed groups to develop Action Plans to halt and prevent violations against children.
Six Grave Violations Against Children
An action plan is a written, signed commitment between the United Nations and parties to conflict listed in the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict.
Each action plan outlines concrete, time-bound measure to end violations against children, release and reunify children with their families, but also to put in place legislation, tools and mechanisms to prevent future violations and to hold perpetrators accountable.
For example, an agreement to end the recruitment and use of children by Government forces can include the following action:
- Issue military command orders prohibiting the recruitment and use of children
- Criminalize the recruitment and use of children
- Integrate age-verification mechanisms in recruitment procedures
- Release all children identified in the ranks of security forces
- Ensure children’s reintegration into civilian life
