ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Secretary-General's Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict has highlighted the ongoing impact of conflict and insecurity on children in Afghanistan, documenting hundreds of verified grave violations.
According to the report, the UN verified 1,647 grave violations affecting 559 children, including 434 boys and 125 girls, in Afghanistan.
An additional 244 violations from previous years were also verified during the reporting period.
The report notes that children in Afghanistan continue to bear the consequences of violence, insecurity and restrictions affecting their safety and well-being.
The report, prepared in light of a Security Council resolution, comprises consultations and covers the period from January to December 2025.
It includes trends regarding the impact of armed conflict on children and information on violations committed, as requested by the Security Council.
Casualties and recruitment
The report states that 543 children were killed or injured during the year in Afghanistan.
Explosive ordnance remained the leading cause of child casualties, while cross-border shelling, air strikes and attacks by various armed groups also contributed to civilian harm.
The UN further verified the recruitment and use of 11 boys by the Taliban for combat and support roles, calling for an immediate end to the practice and adherence to international child protection standards.
Attacks on schools and humanitarian access
The report documented 135 verified attacks on schools and hospitals, with most incidents attributed to the Taliban. It also verified the military use of 31 schools, although 14 of those facilities were later vacated.
Humanitarian operations also faced significant challenges.
The UN verified 950 incidents of the denial of humanitarian access, disrupting the delivery of essential assistance to children and vulnerable communities across the country.
UN calls for greater protection
The UN Secretary-General urged all parties in Afghanistan, particularly the Taliban, to strengthen the protection of children and comply with international humanitarian and human rights obligations.
The report calls for an end to the recruitment and use of children, improved clearance of explosive remnants of war, unhindered humanitarian access, and greater protection of schools and hospitals in Afghanistan.
The UN also reiterated its call for the removal of restrictions affecting girls' education in Afghanistan and for measures that ensure all Afghan children have access to education, healthcare and humanitarian assistance without discrimination.
Other regions
The UN Secretary-General's report describes 2025 as one of the worst years on record for children affected by armed conflict.
The United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against 22,495 children across 20 country situations and one regional monitoring arrangement, marking a sharp increase from the previous year.
The report notes a 25% rise in verified grave violations, with children increasingly exposed to killing, maiming, recruitment by armed groups, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
The UN warned that the growing disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law continues to place millions of children at heightened risk in conflict-affected regions worldwide.
