RASC News Agency: The United Nations office in Geneva has revealed a harrowing statistic: nearly 400 million children globally are exposed to various forms of violence, predominantly within the confines of their own homes. Disturbingly, a significant portion of these children are under the age of five, underscoring the vulnerability of this age group to domestic abuse. In a statement on the platform X, the UN emphasized, “No child should fear the place that is meant to be their sanctuary.” The organization called for concerted global efforts to protect children and to break the chains of violence that bind them.
In Afghanistan, the situation for children, particularly girls, has deteriorated dramatically since the Taliban’s return to power. Countless young girls have fallen victim to forced and underage marriages, driven by a toxic mix of extreme poverty and societal oppression. In a report issued in November, the World Food Programme (WFP) highlighted that many Afghanistani families, facing crippling hunger and destitution, have resorted to marrying off their young daughters as a desperate survival strategy. Additional reports have documented cases of sexual violence against minors, including assaults perpetrated by Taliban members and their associates. Families have also been coerced and threatened into marrying their daughters to members of the Taliban, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The UN described this grim reality as a “heartbreaking chapter” in the lives of countless Afghanistani families in a video shared on X. The WFP has identified recurring droughts and an escalating climate crisis as major contributors to the deepening poverty in Afghanistan. According to UN projections, by 2025, more than 12 million children in Afghanistan will require critical humanitarian assistance, encompassing essential services such as healthcare, food, and education. This stark forecast highlights the urgency of international intervention to address the escalating crises engulfing the nation.
