We at ISSA, a network dedicated to safeguarding the rights and well-being of young children, issue this statement to underscore the urgent need to protect and uphold the rights and well-being of young children amidst the multiple ongoing armed conflicts across the globe. Following the most recent attack on a children's hospital in Ukraine earlier this week, amid a war that that has been raging for more than two years, and the countless fatalities, injuries, and displacements of children in Gaza, Sudan, and many other conflict zones, we are compelled to speak out. Children and hospitals should never be targets.

Beyond the fatalities, the impact of these conflicts on young children is wholly unacceptable. According to UNICEF, an estimated 420 million children worldwide are currently living in conflict-affected areas. Alarmingly, children under the age of five represent more than half of all casualties in conflict zones. These numbers reflect not just statistics, but the profound suffering experienced by innocent young lives caught in the crossfire of war with enduring consequences. Studies revealed that nearly 70% of children in Ukraine[1] and Ethiopia (Amhara region)[2] experienced trauma related to the conflicts in their respective areas, with many subsequently developing PTSD. Furthermore, the Lancet[3] highlights that while the majority of children in Gaza suffer from PTSD, these mental health issues go untreated due to more urgent survival needs like safety and hunger.  

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan rightly remarked, "There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace." The failure to protect the many affected children and address their basic needs not only violates their rights but also undermines the prospects for sustainable peace and development.

Considering these stark realities, we call upon all parties involved in armed conflicts and all stakeholders engaged in humanitarian crises to prioritize the following interventions for young children:

1. Immediate and Unconditional Protection of Young Children: We demand that all parties to conflicts prioritize the protection of young children from all forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse. This includes safeguarding hospitals and schools from attacks and ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid to meet the basic needs of young children and their families, such as access to nutritious food and clean water, as well as safe spaces for playing and learning.
2. Access to Essential Services with a family-centered approach: Young children and their families affected by conflict need to have immediate access to humanitarian aid and the right to avail of essential services, including healthcare, nutrition, and trauma-informed psychosocial support.
3. Protect and equip the early childhood workforce to support young children affected by armed conflicts: Early childhood professionals play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality early childhood services and psychosocial support to protect address the psychological impact of conflict on young children. To enable these professionals to effectively meet the unique needs of children and their caregivers in emergency situations and conflict areas, mechanisms must be established to provide relevant and comprehensive training, ongoing professional development, mental health support, and other resources.
4. Investment in protecting and supporting Early Childhood Development: We call for increased investment in early childhood development programs for children affected by war, recognizing the critical importance of the early years in shaping children's future health, well-being, and capacity to benefit from educational and social opportunities. While the immediate priority is to call for a ceasefire in conflict-affected areas, it is equally crucial to plan essential support following the cessation of hostilities.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of young children affected by armed conflict. We urge the international community and world leaders to take decisive action to ensure that young children living in conflict zones are protected, supported, and empowered to thrive in environments of peace and security.

[1] Pfeiffer, E., Garbade, M. & Sachser, C. Traumatic events and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a treatment-seeking sample of Ukrainian children during the war. Child Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 18, 25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00715-1

[2] Biset G, Goshiye D, Melesse N and Tsehay M (2023) Post-traumatic stress disorders among children and adolescents in conflict-affected zones of Amhara region, February 2022. Frontiers in Psychology 13:1052975. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1052975

[3] Taha, A. M., Sabet, C., Nada, S. A., Abuzerr, S., & Nguyen, D. (2024). Addressing the mental health crisis among children in Gaza. Lancet, 11(4), 249-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00036-1