Ukraine

Advocacy

In his 2025 annual report on CAAC, the SG continued to list the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups for killing and maiming and for attacks on schools and hospitals. The SG moved Ukraine under section A of Annex I to reflect its regular discussion by the Security Council. The UN verified 1,914 grave violations against 673 children in 2024, representing a 105 percent increase from 2023. The UN also verified 671 cases of killing and maiming, primarily caused by explosive weapons, the use of two boys by Russian armed forces and affiliated groups, 862 attacks on schools and hospitals, and 379 incidents of denial of humanitarian access. The report also verified the detention of eight children. While no incidents of sexual violence or abduction were verified, the Secretary-General welcomed the reunification of two children abducted in 2022 and called for the return of the remaining separated children. The report also states that the UN “documented” 120 children killed and maimed in the territory of the Russian Federation, however these cases are unverified. The Security Council should: 

  • Express grave concern at the significant increase in verified grave violations against children, and demand that all parties uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL, taking all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians, including children, and civilian objects; and call on all parties to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas;
  • Call for an immediate end to all attacks on objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, as well as education facilities, health facilities, and protected persons, and ensure that such actions are investigated and the perpetrators are duly prosecuted; take concrete measures to mitigate and avoid the military use of schools, pursuant to SCR 2601 (2021);
  • Demand that all parties allow and facilitate the safe, timely, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations, especially children; and respect and protect humanitarian personnel, assets, and infrastructure;
  • Urge the Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups to develop, sign, and implement an action plan with the UN to end and prevent grave violations against children;
  • Reiterate the SG’s call on Russia to cooperate with the UN for the return of Ukrainian children and reunification of such children with their families and/or guardians;
  • Welcome the extension of the joint prevention plan with the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations to prevent grave violations against children and positive advances in this regard.

THERE IS NO SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON UKRAINE.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – August 2025.

Publications

UN Action

Year listed: 2023
Action Plans Signed: N/A
Sanctions Committee: N/A
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in Ukraine: N/A
Security Council Working Group conclusions on Ukraine: N/A
UN Mission: N/A

Perpetrators listed in the annexes of the Secretary-General’s annual reports on children and armed conflict

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Afghan National Police (including Afghan Local Police)~* a a a a a a a
Factions associated with the former Northern Alliance a
Factions in the south of Afghanistan a
Factional fighting groups a
Haqqani network* a a,b a,b a,b a,b a,b a,b
Hezb-e-Islami of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar* a,b,c a,b a,b a,b a,b a,b
Hezb-i-Islami a
Jamat Sunat al-Dawa Salafia* a a a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d,e
Taliban forces/remnants of the Taliban* a a, b, d a,b,d,f a a,b a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d,e
Tora Bora Front* a a a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d,e
Latif Mansur Network* a a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d a,b,d,e

a: Parties that recruit and use children
b: Parties that kill and maim children
c: Parties that commit rape and other forms of sexual violence against children

d: Parties that engage in attacks on schools and/or hospitals
e: Parties that engage in abduction of children
f: Parties that deny humanitarian access to children

~ This party has concluded an action plan with the United Nations in line with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).
* This party has been in the annexes for at least five years and is therefore considered a persistent perpetrator.

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