The systematic abuse of children in the French Catholic Church

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

Between 1950 and 2020, at least 216,000 children in France were sexually abused by priests and members of religious orders. These crimes show how abuse was enabled by silence, cover-ups, and a culture that protected the institution rather than children. In response, France has begun reforms and created independent bodies such as the CRR and […]

How criminal gangs in Sweden are recruiting children for violence and crime

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

Criminal gangs in Sweden are deliberately recruiting children, sometimes as young as 10, to carry out violent acts, transport drugs, and handle weapons. They target vulnerable children where child protection systems fail to provide timely or effective safeguards, drawing them into drug trafficking, armed violence, and other crimes. Despite legal reforms, such as Sweden’s 2023 […]

Children face sexual abuse amid ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, violence

The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing a surge in child sexual abuse amid ongoing armed conflict. The region, particularly North and South Kivu, has become the epicentre of a humanitarian disaster where sexual violence is systematically deployed as a weapon of war, specifically targeting children. Despite international humanitarian law explicitly prohibiting […]

Confronting group-based child sexual exploitation in the UK

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

Between 1997 and 2013, around 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham, UK, by grooming gangs. Similar gangs were also found to be operating in other towns and cities across England, including Oldham, Rochdale, and Derby. In response, the UK government has committed to implementing all 12 recommendations proposed by Baroness Casey — known collectively […]

Gaza’s children face unprecedented hunger under the ongoing siege

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Poverty, violence

Since the escalation of Israel’s attack on Gaza in October 2023, hunger in the besieged enclave has surged to record levels – with children suffering the most. More than 495,000 people are now facing catastrophic food shortages, and families are surviving on as little as 245 calories per day, barely 12% of the minimum daily […]

The current impact of armed conflict on children’s rights in South Sudan 

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, violence

South Sudan, independent since 2011, continues to be devastated by armed conflicts that severely infringe on children’s rights. Despite a peace agreement and ceasefire in 2020, intermittent clashes (including recent confrontations in early 2025) have caused a surge in civilian casualties and mass displacement. The country faces alarming levels of child soldier recruitment, conflict-related sexual […]

“ISIS brides” and their children: Ongoing violations of children’s rights in Syria and Iraq

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Digital Environment, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

Between 2013 and 2019, an estimated 664 to 746 Western women travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State (ISIS). Women and girls supported ISIS not only by marrying fighters, but also by engaging in propaganda, recruitment, and in some cases, armed roles. After the fall of the Caliphate in 2019, many of […]

The rise of livestreamed child sexual exploitation in the Philippines

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Digital Environment, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

The Philippines has become one of the most prominent global hubs for livestreamed child sexual abuse. Fueled by extreme poverty, family complicity, and unchecked internet expansion, children are exploited in real-time for foreign predators. Weak enforcement and corruption leave a large number of children at risk, with survivors facing lifelong trauma. Without stronger laws and […]

Discrimination and exclusion define life for migrant children in Italy

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Migration, refugees

Migrant children in Italy are facing systemic discrimination and exclusion driven by the country’s entrenched migration policies. Instead of providing protection and opportunity, Italian laws and practices increasingly isolate young migrants from society, further stripping them of their rights to education, health care, and safety—rights which are guaranteed under international law. The worsening political climate […]

The current teenage pregnancy crisis in the Philippines

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Poverty

Teenage pregnancy remains a pressing issue in the Philippines, with profound consequences for young mothers, their children, and society as a whole. The crisis disproportionately impacts out-of-school youth and girls from impoverished families, as poverty, a lack of education, and limited access to health services increase their vulnerability. Despite ongoing efforts, the country continues to […]