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 […]

Unexploded bombs still endanger children in Laos and Cambodia

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

While the Vietnam War ended over 50 years ago, remnants of unexploded ordnances (UXO) buried across rural areas continue to injure and kill children in Laos and Cambodia. These hidden explosives are found near homes, schools, fields, and forests, making everyday activities like playing, farming, or collecting water potentially fatal. Their impact goes beyond physical […]

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 […]

Generations of children growing up in the Kakuma Refugee Camp 

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

Kakuma Refugee Camp, located in northwestern Kenya, has evolved from a temporary shelter into one of the world’s largest refugee settlements. Originally intended to house displaced individuals fleeing conflicts in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, the camp now hosts refugees from various nations. Among them, there are many children facing severe challenges in accessing their fundamental […]

Guatemala’s efforts fall short in protecting girls from sexual violence

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

Sexual violence against girls is a widespread and deeply rooted issue in Guatemala, often used as a tool to control and harm their bodies and futures. The alarming numbers of reported cases of sexual violence by girls have pushed the government to adopt a social protection programme called “Vida Programme” which is aimed at providing […]

The horrifying impact of knife crime on youth in England and Wales

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

The last ten years have seen an alarming and continued rise in knife-enabled crime in England and Wales. Driven by an underlying, growing serious youth violence epidemic, and enabled by continued legislative and policy deficiencies, the crime has become one of the most widespread risks to child safety. Though recent developments point to a positive […]

Syria’s explosive remnants endanger a generation of innocents

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

The Syrian conflict has left a devastating legacy of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines, posing a persistent threat to the lives of children. In the first months of 2025, the situation worsened, with over 100 children killed by these remnants of war in a single month alone. Historical and political background Syria’s civil war began […]