A new era of crises for children as conflicts escalate and inequality worsens
At the beginning of each year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)UNICEF) assesses the risks that children may face and suggests ways to reduce potential harm. The organization issued the report, “Children’s Horizons 2025: Building Resilient Systems for Children’s Futures,” calling for strengthening national systems designed to mitigate the impact of crises on children and ensure they receive the necessary support.
In this article, we review some of what was stated in the report.
The number of children living in conflict areas has doubled
The escalation of armed conflicts continues to pose serious risks to children during the current year, as conflicts increase in intensity and violence.
More than 473 million children – more than one in six globally – live in conflict-affected areas, with the world experiencing the highest number of conflicts since World War II. The proportion of children living in conflict areas has doubled from about 10% in the 1990s to nearly 19% today.
Children eating lunch in Tagal village, Chad.
Amid increasing geopolitical rivalries and the paralysis of multilateral institutions, state and non-state actors appear to be more willing to violate international laws designed to protect civilian populations, with attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals on the rise.
This decline in civilian protection efforts over decades casts a heavy shadow on children. In addition to life-threatening risks, children face displacement and the risk of hunger and disease. There are also significant risks to their mental health.
The multilateral system struggled to respond effectively. The report stresses the need for a sustained and sustained effort to reverse the losses witnessed in recent years.
Challenges of the financial system
Developing country governments are finding it increasingly difficult to finance basic investments for children, due to slow growth, high debt, and insufficient tax revenues and development aid.
Another important factor is the increasing burden of sovereign debt. Nearly 400 million children live in countries in debt distress, and without major reforms, this number is expected to rise. The cost of servicing this debt puts pressure on children’s basic investments.
In 2025, countries face critical decisions about reforms to the framework of institutions, policies, rules and practices that govern the global financial system.
Tabatinga – Amazon State – in Brazil during October 2024.
Irreversible consequences of the climate crisis
Children are disproportionately affected by climate change, and the effects on their development, health, education and well-being can be permanent and irreversible.
The year 2025 presents critical opportunities to make progress towards global climate goals. This requires comprehensive and robust policies, adequate and equitable financing and investments, strong regulatory and accountability frameworks, and effective monitoring systems.
Improving access to digital services
Several digital trends are expected to shape the world’s future in 2025 and beyond. Rapid developments in emerging technologies will continue to shape all aspects of children’s lives from education to communication and participation in the digital economy.
One key trend is the emergence of public digital infrastructure, a set of shared digital systems that can provide equitable access to public and private services. This infrastructure enables digital public services to be delivered at scale, including for children, and is being rapidly adopted around the world.
Children at Melin Public School in Yaounde, Cameroon, use tablets to learn.
Public digital infrastructure can fundamentally change how governments deliver services and interact with their citizens, including children. It can also play a central role in promoting norms that drive development, inclusion, trust, innovation and respect for human rights.
But persistent gaps in digital access, especially in less developed countries, are a major barrier to ensuring that this infrastructure serves every child. There are also issues related to ensuring data is coordinated across systems and ensuring adequate data protection and security.
Global governance under pressure
New and persistent crises continue to challenge the future of global governance. In 2025, countries and institutions must address the critical question of whether the global multilateral framework will come together to form a coherent response to common challenges or fragment further, putting collective action at risk.
(From the archive) Youth rights advocates at the 2023 G20 meeting.
The direction we take will profoundly impact efforts to protect the rights and well-being of children around the world.
Children’s rights must remain at the forefront
The conclusion reached by the report’s authors is the critical importance of adopting and strengthening systems to improve the lives and prospects of children. They stressed the need for these systems to embody the principles of inclusion, justice and accountability, to ensure that the rights and needs of children remain at the forefront. Most importantly, these systems must address current global challenges and prepare for what comes next.
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