Myanmar Sees 400% Rise in Child Rights Abuses Amid Conflict

UNICEF

Grave violations against children in Myanmar have surged by over 400% since the military coup in 2021, according to a devastating new UN report published on Tuesday, just weeks after the country was rocked by a powerful earthquake.

Covering the period from July 2020 to December 2023, the report details 5,141 verified grave violations affecting more than 4,000 children—marking a sharp and deeply concerning increase driven by the expansion of armed conflict across the country.

Children Trapped in a Worsening Warzone
The Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and affiliated militias were responsible for nearly 80% of these violations, which include child recruitment, killings, maiming, and abductions. Armed opposition groups accounted for around 10%. The most common abuse was the recruitment and use of children, with nearly 2,200 cases confirmed.

Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, condemned the scale of the abuses: “I’m shocked at the level of violence endured by the children of Myanmar... I urge all parties to end grave violations and ensure accountability.”

Detention and Displacement
A particularly alarming trend is the detention of children: 255 minors have been held by the military or police for alleged ties to armed groups—a 1,175% increase from the previous reporting period. Gamba stressed that such children must be treated as victims, not criminals, and that their rehabilitation should be prioritised.

Attacks on schools and hospitals also skyrocketed, rising by more than 1,300% to 288 incidents, leaving thousands of children without access to essential services. Casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance surged, with over 1,000 cases reported in 2023 alone.

Limited Progress, Mounting Need
Despite modest progress—such as the recent release of 93 child recruits by the Myanmar Armed Forces—meaningful engagement with the military remains limited. Humanitarian access to conflict zones has also worsened, particularly in Rakhine, Sagaing, Shan, and Kachin states, where the highest levels of violations were recorded.

The UN is calling on the international community to fund reintegration programmes and lifesaving aid, warning that millions of children remain at extreme risk in one of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones for minors.

-2025-04-16