International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, 4 June 2023

"Children often bear the brunt of conflicts and violence they know nothing about.
On this International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, UNICRI acknowledges the pain suffered by children around the world, who are victims of physical, mental, and emotional abuse.
Children caught in conflict suffer grave violations, including sexual abuse and exploitation. We must harness everything in our power to protect them from these evils.
UNICRI is the United Nations research and training institute focused on crime prevention and criminal justice, and one of our strategic priorities is to promote the responsible use of new and emerging technologies to address crime and exploitation.
For example, through the AI for Safer Children initiative, UNICRI and the United Arab Emirates support law enforcement around the world to better understand and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into child sexual exploitation and abuse investigations, in compliance with ethics and human rights.
Another of our strategic priorities is to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization.
We know that children in conflict settings are particularly susceptible to radicalization. So at UNICRI, we empower youth in post-conflict settings and promote resilience through positive alternatives to incitement to violence and radicalization. We also support juvenile justice systems to prevent crimes committed by children.
Join us today to protect the rights of the innocent among us - our children - who are most affected by the consequences of war and violence."
Antonia Marie De Meo, Director of UNICRI