Children and Youth
The State of the World’s Children 2025
Ending Child Poverty: Our Shared Imperative
The promise of childhood is broken for millions when poverty denies them their basic rights and the chance to reach their full potential. The State of the World’s Children 2025: Ending Child Poverty – Our Shared Imperative exposes the staggering scale and depth of deprivation facing children in every corner of the globe. The analysis examines multidimensional poverty across health, education, nutrition, housing, sanitation and water, and provides a critical roadmap for governments and partners to dismantle barriers, prioritize social protection, and build a world where every child can survive and thrive. The Statistical Compendium presents the most recent key statistics on child survival, development and protection for the world’s countries, areas and regions. It supports UNICEF’s focus on progress and results towards internationally agreed-upon goals and compacts relating to children’s and women’s rights and development.
Understanding the Lives of the Women, Men and Children of Al-Hol Camp
Since 2016, Al-Hol camp has been a site of prolonged arbitrary detention for tens of thousands of Syrians, Iraqis, and third-country nationals who were detained following the fall of ISIL/Da’esh. At its peak in 2019, an estimated 73,000 people were arbitrarily detained, 91 per cent of whom were women and children. In July 2024, camp management estimated the population at 41,032 individuals. Movement is highly restricted, and humanitarian operations are severely limited and under-resourced. Conditions in the camp are marked by systematic human rights violations. This publication examines gendered experiences of arbitrary detention in Al-Hol and interrogates core assumptions of women’s alleged links or family ties to ISIL/Da’esh. The study uses an anthropological approach to provide an in-depth analysis of the socioeconomic composition of the camp, as well as the specific ways in which the lives of arbitrarily detained women and girls intersected—or did not intersect—with ISIL/Da’esh. In line with UN Women’s normative and protection mandate, this publication examines under-researched forms of gendered experiences in Al-Hol, including cases of extreme violence, insecurity, and criminality, alongside prior experiences during the conflict. The study examines exploitation, agency, and human rights, as well as humanitarian and protection risks in Al-Hol, particularly for women and girls. Furthermore, the analysis addresses the ways in which these experiences have shaped their daily lives, futures, and prospects for leaving the camp. The study generates evidence and provides recommendations in support of a human rights–based, gender-responsive policy and programmatic approach to addressing the situation of indefinite, mass arbitrary detention.
Les enfants en Haïti face à une polycrise: L’effet combiné de la violence, de la malnutrition, de pertes d’apprentissage et de l’effondrement des services essentiels
UNICEF sos enfants
Haïti est confronté à une crise humanitaire dévastatrice, qui évolue rapidement. Les enfants en paient le prix fort, alors que la violence ne cesse de s’intensifier, que les déplacements internes se multiplient et que les familles sont privées de services élémentaires, notamment de nourriture, de soins, d’éducation et de protection. Si aucune mesure ferme n’est prise, l’avenir de toute une génération est en péril.
The polycrisis for Children in Haiti: The Ripple Effect of Violence, Malnutrition, Lost Learning and Failing Essential Services
UNICEF Child Alert
Haiti is facing a devastating and fast-evolving humanitarian crisis as violence spirals, internal displacement soars and families are cut off from basic services. ‘The polycrisis for children in Haiti’ draws on the latest data, field reports and sectoral analyses to sound the alarm on the scale of the crisis facing children in Haiti.
World Programme for Human Rights Education: Plan of Action, Fifth Phase
The World Programme for Human Rights Education was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2004 as an ongoing global initiative structured in consecutive phases in order to advance implementation of human rights education programmes in all sectors. Human rights education promotes a shared sense of humanity and fosters a common understanding that all human beings are equally deserving of dignity, respect and justice. It empowers children and youth to fulfil their role as global citizens, to take action and uphold their human rights and those of others, and to participate meaningfully in public affairs and democratic decision-making processes. In recognition of this, the United Nations Human Rights Council, through its resolution 57/10, launched the Fifth Phase (2025-2029) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, dedicated to children and youth, with a focus on human rights education in three thematic areas: digital technologies and human rights, gender equality, and environment and climate change. Building on United Nations documents and consultations with a diverse range of stakeholders, this Fifth Phase publication outlines the scope, background, specific objectives and components of the plan of action and steps to implement it.
2024 Orange Book of Results
Key Results Achieved at the Country Level
The 2024 Orange Book of Results features more than 600 immediate results achieved by UNFPA at the country level in implementing the country programmes in 2024. These results were achieved in close collaboration with governments and other partners including civil society organizations. The publication reflects the accountability of UNFPA for achieving results and can be used as a learning tool.
Child Nutrition Report 2025
Feeding Profit: How Food Environments Are Failing Children
In 2025, the global prevalence of obesity among school-age children and adolescents exceeded underweight for the first time. This dramatic shift in the face of malnutrition jeopardizes the health and future potential of children, communities and nations. The 2025 Child Nutrition Report – ‘Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children’ – reveals how unhealthy food environments are contributing to the worldwide surge in overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. The report presents the latest data on the status, trends and inequities in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents worldwide. It describes how food environments expose children and adolescents to a constant supply of cheap and aggressively marketed ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, while failing to make nutritious options available and affordable. It also explains how the lack of effective policies leaves countries unprepared to safeguard children and adolescents from these harmful food environments. Drawing from recent examples of countries that have made extraordinary progress, the report presents recommendations to transform children’s food environments.
UNHCR Education Report 2025
The Unbreakable Promise: Resilience and Resolve in Refugee Education
The 2025 UNHCR Refugee Education Report draws on data from more than 70 countries worldwide to provide the most detailed picture yet of the state of refugee education and enrolment. The report highlights slight increases in access to education for refugees as well as moderate improvements towards achieving gender parity. At the same time, the recent cuts to humanitarian and development aid may put this hard-won progress at risk, particularly without greater investment, stronger partnerships and better data collection.
Protecting Children in Migration: A Nexus between Migration and Child Protection in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country of origin and transit, with migration primarily occurring around three main routes: (a) Eastern route through Djibouti towards Saudi Arabia; (b) Southern route through Kenya towards South Africa; and (c) Northern route through Libya towards Europe. In 2022, the number of unaccompanied children who migrated via the Eastern route doubled in comparison to 2021, and unaccompanied children made up 38 per cent of all children on the move from Ethiopia in 2022. En route, children may face protection risks including arbitrary arrest and detention, human trafficking for the purposes of labour or sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, extortion and denial of access to basic needs. Broad structural factors, such as conflict, drought and poverty are driving children and adults to migrate despite the protection risks. To understand the current knowledge gaps in the nexus between migration and child protection, as well as proposed improvements, this study relies on primary and secondary data analysis. With a particular focus on exploring linkages between child migration and trafficking in children in Ethiopia, the report concludes with the institutional and legal landscape for children on the move and highlights key policy gaps in protecting children on the move across Ethiopia.
Denial of Humanitarian Access to Children
A Guidance Note for the Children and Armed Conflict Agenda
Early in the children and armed conflict (CAAC) agenda, the Denial of Humanitarian Access (DHA) to children was identified as a critical issue affecting children in conflict areas and other situations of violence. Over the years, cases of the DHA, as reported through MRM, on grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict have been steadily on the rise. DHA is one of the six grave violations the United Nations is monitoring through the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) as established by the Security Council resolution 1612 (2005). Between 2005 and 2024, more than 30,000 DHA incidents have been verified. DHA, as defined within the CAAC agenda, and as specified in this document, does not exist in a vacuum but is informed by a comprehensive body of international legal norms and standards designed to protect the rights and well-being of children in times of conflict, including international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This Guidance Note results from extensive consultations with field staff and partners involved in the MRM. This document provides specific and practical guidance to field colleagues involved in MRM implementation. It helps identify incidents to be verified through the monitoring and reporting of DHA violations, including attribution as mandated by the Security Council. The guidance is to ensure coherence and consistency in verifying and reporting on DHA within the CAAC agenda. It endeavours to devise a global approach that is applicable across all situations of concern on the CAAC agenda while concurrently recognizing and accommodating the specificities inherent to each unique context.
Children With Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
A Statistical Overview of Their Well-being
Nearly 108 million children with disabilities live in Asia and the Pacific—almost half of the global total—yet too many are left behind. This report reveals deep inequalities in access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and protection for children with disabilities across the region. The report presents the first comprehensive regional overview of these disparities. It shows that children with disabilities are significantly less likely to attend school, receive adequate nutrition, or be protected from violence. Many face exclusion from the earliest years of life. The reasons vary: They include stigma, lack of data, accessible services, information, communication and physical barriers. But the consequences are sadly consistent. When marginalized from society, the chances for children with disabilities to survive and thrive are diminished, along with their prospects for a bright future. The report draws on data from 14 countries that used the UNICEF/Washington Group Child Functioning Module - a tool that focuses on children’s functional difficulties in daily life, rather than relying solely on medical diagnoses. This approach helps overcome stigma and underreporting, offering a more accurate picture of the proportion of children with disabilities and helps identify disparities in development outcomes and access to rights for children with disabilities and their peers. This report aims to promote the use of data to make children with disabilities in the region more visible, enabling a fuller understanding of their life experiences. It offers evidence that it is crucial for decision-making to ensure every child has an equal chance in life.
Child Well-Being in an Unpredictable World
Growing up in a wealthy country with abundant resources does not a guarantee a happy, healthy childhood. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, children in some of the richest countries experienced significant declines in their academic performance, mental well-being and physical health. These troubling trends threaten to undermine the future potential and overall well-being of children. The latest Innocenti Report Card 19 from UNICEF’s Global Office of Research and Foresight answers three core questions: How have children fared in the face of a rapidly changing and often unpredictable global environment? What are the key factors affecting children’s lives? What can be done to promote child well-being?
Listening to Adolescent Girls
A Review of the Inclusion of Adolescent Girls’ Needs Within the Humanitarian Response in Northeast Nigeria
This report by UNFPA and UNICEF is the result of a review of the interagency humanitarian response and analyses how the multi-sector needs of adolescent girls are addressed within humanitarian efforts responding to the crisis in Northeast Nigeria. The review was carried out using a participatory approach that included adolescent girls as well as multiple local and women-led organizations. The Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States of northeast Nigeria have been acutely affected by conflict, disaster, displacement, and insecurity. Adolescent girls are historically overlooked in humanitarian responses and rarely have opportunity to participate in needs assessment and monitoring efforts. This review was the first of its kind and looked at the gaps in the humanitarian response, identified promising practices and evidence-based programming that should be scaled up, and identified actions for all stakeholders in the humanitarian system to take to ensure adolescent girls’ needs are identified and met in northeast Nigeria and other humanitarian contexts.
Civil Society and Disarmament 2024
The Impacts of the Availability of Firearms in Central America
Armed violence, the subject of this publication, represents one of the most damaging security problems for Central America’s inhabitants. Violent deaths caused by firearms in countries in the region comprise between 70 and 90 per cent. Regulatory frameworks in different countries seem to be inadequate in controlling firearms used in acts of violence. This study aims to address the lack of information and analysis on matters such as the role of Governments in restraining violence and controlling the availability of firearms, the impact of transnational organized crime, and the porosity of borders and corruption. It also concludes that armed violence does not affect all members of society, such as women and youth, in the same way.
Investing in Child Protection and Wellbeing: A Key Accelerator of the SDGs
The close interconnection between the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and children’s well-being needs to be made explicit. This year’s advocacy brief shares reflections focusing on the cross-sectoral approaches taken by Member States, highlighting how investment in a holistic approach to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contributes to the prevention and response to violence against children and how addressing violence against children supports progress towards these goals.
The Impact of the Armed Conflict and Occupation on Children’s Rights in Ukraine
24 February 2022 — 31 December 2024
This report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) describes widespread violations of the rights of the child in the context of prolonged hostilities and occupation following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. It covers the period from 24 February 2022 to 31 December 2024 and is based on the work of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). The extensive use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas has killed and injured children, and damaged or destroyed homes, schools, medical facilities, and electricity infrastructure. The continuous hostilities have disrupted essential services for children and driven displacement, undermining children’s enjoyment of their rights to health, housing, education, family life, and an adequate standard of living, among others. Furthermore, Ukraine now has one of the highest prevalence of explosive remnants of war and landmines globally, which will likely cause continuing casualties among children in particular far into the future.
Влияние вооруженного конфликта и оккупации на права детей в украине
24 февраля 2022 года – 31 декабря 2024 года
В этом докладе Управления Верховного комиссара ООН по правам человека (УВКПЧ) подробно описываются широко распространенные нарушения прав детей, произошедшие в условиях длительных боевых действий и оккупации после полномасштабного вторжения Российской Федерации в Украину. Доклад охватывает период с 24 февраля 2022 года по 31 декабря 2024 года и основан на данных, собранных Мониторинговой миссией ООН по правам человека в Украине (ММПЧУ). Масштабное применение оружия взрывного действия с широкой зоной поражения в густонаселенных районах привело к смертям и ранениям детей, а также к разрушению или повреждению жилых домов, школ, медицинских учреждений и объектов энергетической инфраструктуры. Непрекращающиеся боевые действия нарушили предоставление основных услуг для детей, привели к расселению населения и серьезно подорвали реализацию детьми их прав на здоровье, жилье, образование, семейную жизнь и достойный уровень жизни в том числе. Кроме того, территория Украины сегодня остается одной из наиболее загрязненных в мире взрывоопасными пережитками войны и минами, что, вероятно, продолжит приводить к жертвам среди детей, в частности, в будущем.
Вплив збройного конфлікту та окупації на права дітей в україні
24 лютого 2022 року – 31 грудня 2024 року
У цій доповіді Управління Верховного комісара ООН з прав людини (УВКПЛ) описує широкомасштабні порушення прав дітей в умовах тривалих бойових дій та окупації після повномасштабного вторгнення Російської Федерації в Україну. Доповідь охоплює період з 24 лютого 2022 року по 31 грудня 2024 року та ґрунтується на роботі Моніторингової місії ООН з прав людини в Україні (ММПЛУ). Широке використання зброї вибухової дії з великим радіусом ураження в густонаселених районах призвело до смертей та поранень серед дітей, а також пошкоджень чи знищень житлових будинків, шкіл, медичних закладів та енергетичної інфраструктури. Безперервні бойові дії порушили надання основних послуг для дітей, спричинили переміщення населення, що серйозно підриває реалізацію їхніх прав, зокрема на здоров’я, житло, освіту, сімейне життя, а також належний рівень життя. Окрім того, територія України сьогодні одна з найбільш забруднених територій у світі вибухонебезпечними пережитками війни та мінами, що, ймовірно, продовжуватиме спричиняти подальші жертви серед дітей у майбутньому.
UNODA Occasional Papers No. 44
Empowering You(th): 10 Stories of Turning (Disarmament) Ideas into Action
Discover the transformative journeys of 10 young leaders from around the globe in this inspiring collection of opinion pieces by alumni of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) youth programmes. These passionate advocates share how their experiences with UNODA empowered them to turn ideas into action—whether by creating groundbreaking initiatives, publishing influential educational resources, or rallying their communities for meaningful change. Each story reflects a unique perspective, shaped by diverse backgrounds, fields of focus, and ambitions. From tackling pressing global security challenges to reimagining disarmament in their own communities, these youth leaders exemplify the power of education and empowerment in impacting change. This publication is not just a testament to UNODA’s far-reaching influence—it’s a call to action for all who believe in the power of youth to shape a safer and more secure future. With voices as diverse as their accomplishments, this collection is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration, innovation, and hope for a disarmament-driven world.
Empowering Girls, Securing Futures
The Investment Case for Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage in South-East Asia
In South-East Asia, adolescent pregnancy and child marriage share common drivers such as social and gender norms that undervalue girls and stigmatize their sexual and reproductive health. Empowering Girls, Securing Futures focuses on new research and modeling that quantifies the health and economic benefits associated with investing in proven multisectoral interventions that prevent adolescent pregnancy and child marriage. It covers five South-East Asian countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia and the Philippines. The report finds that investments to scale up and sustain proven interventions to support girls’ capabilities from now until 2050 would yield USD$10 for every USD$1 invested, producing positive outcomes for girls, whole societies and economies. The report is a clarion call to governments and partners to implement the comprehensive package of interventions; target and reach the most vulnerable adolescent girls; and secure the needed resources to scale the programmes.