UN Security Council urges protection for children from digital abuse in war

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for children affected by armed conflict to be protected from abuses carried out or amplified through digital technologies, while promoting safe online access to education and child-protection resources.

Resolution 2832, adopted on 19 October, condemns violations including the recruitment and re-recruitment of children, sexual violence, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals. It urges states to put the impact on children at the centre of digital policymaking and to help children build digital literacy and resilience. [1]

Greece, which drafted the resolution, said armed groups were using social media and messaging platforms to recruit and exploit children. Its representative said: “Recruitment through a smartphone is still recruitment.” She added that the text was not intended to regulate digital content or restrict freedom of expression, but to address violence fuelled by such content. [1]

The unanimous vote masked disagreements over the resolution’s scope and implementation. Russia argued that digital technologies had not created new categories of grave violations and said work to gather best practices should remain within the existing mandate of the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. The United States disassociated itself from references it said would expand the office’s role, while China said some members’ concerns were not fully reflected. [1]

Other members called for stronger action or safeguards. Denmark said it would have preferred firmer language on technology companies and legal compliance. Latvia highlighted risks of technology-facilitated gender violence, while Somalia warned that implementation could overburden conflict-affected countries and stressed national ownership and protection of children’s sensitive information. [1]

Liberia’s representative said the vote must be turned into protection, with success measured by children being safer from exploitation and better able to learn. [1]