International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

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The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression falls on June 4th, and it was established by the United Nations in 1982 as a way to remember the devastating impact that wars and other violent conflicts have on the children of the nations undergoing these situations. This day is meant to emphasize the need to protect children’s rights and their well-being, as these conflicts put their life and safety at risk physically as well as psychologically. The United Nations emphasized how in these situations, children lack any sense of safety, as every sphere of their life becomes compromised. Children are impacted passively, as their country becomes the ground for conflict therefore invading hospitals, schools and homes, but they are also sometimes involved actively, recruited into the conflict.

The United Nations created this world day in response to the impact of the 1982 Lebanon War on children. Described briefly, this was a 3 month conflict regarding the Israeli invasion of Lebanon because the forces of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were grouped in Beirut. There had been a conflict situation for many years prior, but there had been a cease-fire agreement in July 1981 for peace along the Israeli-Lebanese border. This lasted until June 1982, when the Israeli army advanced into the Lebanese capital again to encircle the PLO. Thousands of civilians were killed or injured, including children. Many were caught in the crossfire or recruited by militias, not out of ideology but for survival and protection in an unstable environment.

Over 473 million children are living in conflict zones, and they all face extremely frightening circumstances that are harmful for both their physical well-being and their psychological well-being. These experiences of destruction and loss have life-long implications, as children are exposed continuously to toxic stress. Their mental health is impacted by this in different ways. They may face anxiety and depression, as they are often separated from significant others and cannot form a sense of security. Emotional withdrawal is another consequence of such exposure, and this numbing may lead to the perception of violence as normal, impacting their relational abilities as this is the only reality they come to know. Alongside this, they may show aggression as they externalize the symptoms provoked by the situations, or psychosomatic symptoms as they manifest their anxiety through physical complaints ranging from headaches to partial amnesia. Finally, to deal with the psychological pain they are forced to face, children from conflict areas may turn to self-harm, either in the form of substances as a form of temporary escape, or even through suicide as they don’t receive the mental health services that they need. 

The United Nations uses this observance to advocate for children’s rights and raise awareness of the impact of war on young lives. It serves as a call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to protect children and uphold their dignity. On this day, the global community is reminded of its responsibility to ensure a safer, more peaceful future for the world’s most vulnerable.

Giulia Daccò Coppi

giulia.daccocoppi01@icatt.it

Bibliography:

al-Qutob, A. Y., & Fischbach, M. (1982, January 1). Lebanon War, 1982. palquest. https://www.palquest.org/en/highlight/168/lebanon-war-1982

Child soldiers global report 2001 – Lebanon. Refworld. (1970, January 1). https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/cscoal/2001/en/65494

Surviving is just the beginning: The impact of conflict on children’s Mental Health. Save the Children International. (n.d.). https://www.savethechildren.net/blog/surviving-just-beginning-impact-conflict-children-s-mental-health

United Nations. (n.d.). International Day of innocent children victims of aggression. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/observances/child-victim-day