India is demanding international accountability at the UN Security Council following a 44% increase in attacks on schools during 2025. With 473 million children currently living in or fleeing conflict zones, the global community is increasingly looking toward digital infrastructure and stricter legal consequences to prevent the total collapse of education in war-torn regions.
Why are attacks on schools and children increasing?
The scale of violence against minors has reached a 30-year high. According to Vanessa Frazier, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, the UN verified 38,558 grave violations against children in 2025. These violations affected 24,174 individual children.
Frazier identified several primary conflict zones driving these figures, including the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Somalia. The rising frequency of these incidents suggests that traditional protections are failing to deter combatants.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported that attacks on schools specifically rose by 44% in a single year. Guterres described these statistics as a “damning verdict on humanity’s collective failure” to protect the most vulnerable populations.
More than 85 million children living in conflict zones currently have no access to any form of education whatsoever.
How will AI and drone technology impact child safety?
The nature of modern warfare is shifting, introducing new risks to educational environments. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that the evolution of combat technology is making the situation for children and schools more dangerous.
Specific emerging threats include:
- Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- Autonomous and remotely operated weapon systems.
- AI-supported targeting systems.
As these technologies become more prevalent in conflict zones, Russell emphasized that international commitments to child protection must remain steadfast to counter the precision and speed of automated warfare.
Can digital platforms like DIKSHA provide an educational bridge?
As physical schools become targets, the future of education in conflict zones may rely on decentralized digital tools. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, proposed the DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) platform as a potential global model for displaced learners.
Harish noted that DIKSHA has “democratised access to quality learning” by using interactive content and AI-powered tools available in multiple languages. The goal is to use digital learning as a “bridge” to maintain educational continuity when physical infrastructure is destroyed or inaccessible.
India has already begun investing in rebuilding education infrastructure, such as schools and vocational training centers, within its own neighborhood to support refugees and displaced communities. Harish argued that continuity of learning is a primary tool for long-term resilience and recovery.
To ensure educational resilience, digital learning tools must be designed for low-bandwidth environments and multiple languages to accommodate displaced populations effectively.
What is the future of accountability for war crimes against children?
A major trend in international diplomacy is the shift from mere “protection” to active “accountability.” P. Harish told the Security Council that protection efforts are incomplete if they are not paired with consequences for violators. He stated that those who target schools with impunity must be held to account.
The movement toward accountability likely involves:
- Strengthening legal frameworks to address AI-driven violations.
- Increased pressure on states to translate UN commitments into ground-level reality.
- Sustained investment in both physical and digital educational infrastructure for refugees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children are affected by conflict globally?
Nearly 473 million children—more than one in six children worldwide—are currently living in or fleeing from conflict zones.
What makes the 2025 data significant?
The 38,558 verified grave violations recorded in 2025 represent the highest number of violations documented in the 30-year history of the UN mandate on this issue.
What is the DIKSHA platform?
DIKSHA is India’s digital infrastructure for knowledge sharing, which uses AI and interactive content to provide quality education across various languages.
What do you think is the most effective way to protect children’s education during war? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on global security trends.
