Over 5,000 Child Rights Violations in Myanmar Since Coup, UN Chief Reports

One of the most shocking findings is a nearly 3,000% rise in child abductions, many of whom were coerced into military training.

Staff Reporter

Apr 13, 2025, 04:16 AM2 min read

Over 5,000 Child Rights Violations in Myanmar Since Coup, UN Chief Reports

The report reveals that cases of child recruitment alone accounted for approximately 40% of all violations/File Image

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed grave alarm over a dramatic rise in violations against children in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, highlighting a surge in forced recruitment, killings, and abductions by armed forces.

In a newly released report covering the period from July 2020 to December 2023, the United Nations confirmed over 5,140 “grave violations” against more than 4,000 children — some as young as three months old — marking a staggering 400% increase compared to the previous reporting period.

The majority of these violations have been attributed to Myanmar’s armed forces and their affiliated groups. According to the report, the situation has sharply worsened since the military’s seizure of power in February 2021, which reignited violent clashes between the junta and various ethnic armed groups.

“I am deeply alarmed by the surge in grave violations against children and the multiplication in the number of armed actors,” Guterres stated in the report.

“I am appalled by the scale of recruitment and use [of children], and by the surge in the killing and maiming of children, notably as a result of the widespread use of indiscriminate air strikes and firearms, explosive ordnance — in particular landmines — and the rise in attacks on schools and hospitals by all parties to the conflict, especially the Myanmar armed forces,” he added.

The report reveals that cases of child recruitment alone accounted for approximately 40% of all violations. Since the coup, the practice has reportedly expanded to every state and region in the country.

One of the most shocking findings is a nearly 3,000% rise in child abductions, many of whom were coerced into military training. Some minors were also exploited to recruit other children, collect intelligence, extort funds, or serve as human shields during military operations.

Guterres urged all parties involved in the conflict to immediately release all children from their ranks and end these grave abuses.

The report comes amid growing international condemnation of the Myanmar military's actions and calls for renewed efforts to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, amid the country’s ongoing humanitarian and political crisis.