Attacks on schools in conflict zones in sharp growing

Roof of vocational school in the forest, Ukraine, was destroyed after Russian Drone Attack 11. September 2025. (Photo Credit: Francisco Richrt Barbeira / Nurphoto Via Getti Images)

NurPhoto Via Getty Images

Children bear the burden of unrelent hostilities and non-selective attacks, and they influence disrespect for truce and peace agreements. Attacks on children are a common strategy of warfare and include scheduling increasing destructive weapons, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and systematic exploitation of children to combat. The effects of such attacks have long-term consequences, including many years of disability, trauma, PTSD and other psychological influences, among others. Last year, the sudden increase in attacks on schools in conflict zones around the world, resulting in death, abduction and trauma thousand teachers and students. Attacks on such civilian cases as well as schools also dramatically increased the vulnerability of children.

As reported by the United Nations, in 2024. over 41,000 incidents of violence against the school age in 2024. Years. Tagging International Day for Education Protectionin September 9, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said: “The past 12 months, it was about 44% increase in school attacks, which resulted in death, abduction thousands of teachers. Each injury carries profound consequences – not only for teachers and young and young students and for the future of the whole community and countries.”

The growth of attacks on school goes hand in hand with other serious violations committed against children in conflict. Among other things, as indicated in 2025 Annual report The Secretary-General of Children and Armed Conflict, the UN in 2024. documented 41,370 serious violations of children, including 22,495 children killed, mutilated, deprived of humanitarian approaches or recruitment of armed forces and groups. That year, there was a sharp increase of 34% in reported cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence who were committed against children. In addition, the number of children’s victims of multiple grave violations increased by 17% through the convergence of abduction, employment and use and sexual violence.

As reported by the UN, most severe violations were verified in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory (8,554), Democratic Republic of Congo (4,043), Somalia (2,568), Nigeria (2,436) and Haiti (2,269). While they are said that non-state armed groups are responsible for almost 50% of grave violations, government forces were the main perpetrators of murder and named children, attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access. As emphasized by the UN, denial of the humanitarian approach reached an alarming scale, with several humanitarian workers, including United Nations staff, killed 2024. years than ever before.

Looking at the effects of attacks on children in various conflicts, the UN reported that, for example, in Gaza, about 660,000 children left out of school, and classrooms were converted into shelters. In Ukraine, 5.3 million children faces obstacles for education. About 115,000 are completely out of school due to the current war. About 1,850 buildings were damaged since the beginning of the conflict.

According to international humanitarian law, schools are protected by civilian facilities. As such, they benefit from humanitarian principles of difference and proportionality.

22. May 2014. The Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has launched a Guidelines Napa in attacks on schools and hospitalsTo help everyone involved in monitoring and reporting to be equipped with the best tools to end and prevent attacks on schools and hospitals. In May 2025. The Declaration of the Secure School, the political commitment of the Government to protect the school during the conflict was adopted. The declaration has approved 121 StatesIncluding 16 children’s and armed agenda of conflict (such as Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine and Sudan). However, such injuries continue to exist in countries committed to school protection.

With an increasing number of school attacks, it is crucial to emphasize that all parties in conflict anywhere in the world are in order to comply with international law to respect schools as security and consider responsible for the attack.