International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression [Representative image]  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: United Nations-designated International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is marked every year on June 4, to acknowledge the suffering of children who are the victims of physical, emotional and mental torture in conflict-ridden zones worldwide, and to mobile will and resources to secure a better future for them. International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression also affirms the international community’s commitment to preventing widespread violations and strengthening the protection of the rights of minors in conflict-related situations.

Children are among the most vulnerable groups in societies /regions where armed conflicts erupt. In such societies/regions, they face numerous protection risks. Some common violations include recruitment of minors for fight, abduction, killing, attacks on schools, sexual abuse, sex trafficking and denial of access to humanitarian aid, among other egregious child rights violations. Abduction, forced marriage and rape have become routine tactics in conflict zones from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Nigeria, from Syria to Yemen, and Myanmar.

“In recent years, the number of violations perpetrated against children have, in many conflict zones, increased. More needs to be done to protect the 250 million children living in countries and areas affected by conflict. More must be done to protect children from targeting by violent extremists, to promote international humanitarian and human rights law, and to ensure accountability for violations of the rights of children,” says United Nations.

Children are the architects of a better, sustainable tomorrow. Ignoring the presence of a wide array of human rights protection institutions, parties in conflict act with near-total impunity to commit grave atrocities against minors. Exposure to physical, emotional and mental violence can have dramatic and life-long negative impact on them. Protection and promotion of the rights of children have inherent preventive power. Conversely, grave violations of child right weaken efforts to achieve sustainable peace.