Almost 3,000 children have been arrested and 1,000 convicted over mostly gang membership-related charges in El Salvador as part of President Nayib Bukele’s so-called “war on gangs”. However, this success has come at a high cost for children’s rights. Children in juvenile detention facilities have reported torture, inhumane and unsanitary conditions, as well as a […]
In Iraq, a concerning legislative amendment is threatening the rights of children and women. The proposed amendment to the Personal Status Law is designed to legitimise religious marriages, opening the door to child marriages as young as nine years old. Not only does this amendment undermine progress made towards gender equality, but it also places […]
Failures in Israel’s legal system, particularly around pedophilia, expose deep-rooted justice and accountability issues affecting society. Offenders exploit Israel’s Law of Return to evade consequences, with high-profile cases like Malka Leifer’s highlighting extradition and legal obstacles. Despite minor reforms, stronger legal measures and international cooperation are needed to address these challenges effectively. Criminal exploitation of […]
For more than thirty years, the conflict in the DRC has cost the lives of more than six million people, including countless children. Since 2024, with the significant intensification of the conflict, it is appropriate to report the impact of these conflicts on the rights of children, as well as the violations and systemic dysfunctions […]
When the world thinks of chocolate, they frequently think of Europe – of countries like Switzerland, Belgium or the Netherlands – all of which are well known for the high-quality chocolate they produce. The reality, however, is that 70% of the world’s cocoa beans originate in Ivory Coast and Ghana, and over 2 million West African children […]
In some parts of Africa, there’s a disturbing trade driven by the belief in the supernatural powers of albino body parts. Sadly, children, who are particularly vulnerable, are targeted for ritualistic killings. Regrettably, Tanzania’s response to the crisis has fallen short, with only a fraction of reported cases resulting in successful prosecutions. Recent UN concerns […]
In France, the number of incarcerated minors has sharply increased in recent years. In addition to the worrying rise in convictions, conditions for imprisoned minors do not always respect the specific needs of adolescents. The deprivation of children’s freedom must be a last resort and, if they are imprisoned, they must always be held separately […]
As of early March 2024, Nigeria is living in a spiralling security crisis: over 380 children have been kidnapped by Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram in the country’s northeast and other criminal groups in the northwest. Thanks to the negotiations between the government and the gunmen, 137 students have been released, but many more are […]
The world is undergoing a boom in accessible artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. New tools and capabilities present novel opportunities for criminal and malicious actors to exploit children. As lawmakers, policymakers and law enforcement work to keep up with criminal innovations, children are growing increasingly susceptible to AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). New technologies are […]
Since 1996, Guatemala has been facilitating international adoptions, which has led to unethical practices by baby brokers deceiving Indigenous mothers into giving up their children. Fortunately, in 2008, responding to public outcry, the country banned these unhealthy international adoption practices. Yet, many Guatemalan adoptees, now adults raised abroad, face distressing realizations. The reality of adoption […]
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