UN puts Russian forces on blacklist for killing children and attacking schools in Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations put Russian forces on its annual blacklist of countries that violate children's rights in conflict for killing boys and girls and attacking schools and hospitals in Ukraine, according to a new report seen Thursday by The Associated Press.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the Security Council that he is “appalled” by the high number of “grave violations” against children in Ukraine in 2022, “shocked” at the number of attacks on schools and hospitals, “concerned” by the detention of children, and “troubled” that some Ukrainian children have been transferred to Russia.

The UN chief did not put Israel on the blacklist for grave violations against 1,139 Palestinian children, including 54 killings last year — as supporters had hoped.

Instead, he welcomed Israel's engagement with the UN special envoy for children in armed conflict, Virginia Gamba and its “identification of practical measures including those proposed by the UN” to protect children.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, told reporters Guterres “made a big mistake” in not listing the most extreme government in Israel's history.

“It is very disappointing to the Palestinian people and to the Palestinian children,” he said.

In the wide-ranging report, the secretary-general said that last year children were disproportionately affected by conflict.

He said the UN verified grave violations against 13,469 children, including 2,985 who were killed, in 24 countries and one region.

“Grave violations” include the recruitment and use of youngsters by combatants, killings and injuries, sexual violence, abductions, and attacks on schools and hospitals.

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