"My heart is with the over 473 million children who live in conflict zones, facing cruel and ongoing violations of their most basic rights, and of their God-given human dignity,” said Pillay. “I think especially of the 48.8 million children displaced by armed conflict and violence, many of them now without parents, vulnerable to trafficking and abuse.”

The suffering borne by children in conflict situations around the world is intolerable and unacceptable, Pillay said.

“The number of grave violations against children has increased by 25% over the last 30 years,” he continued. “In part it reflects increasingly flagrant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.”

He noted that the WCC has long stood for accountability to these systems of law, created precisely to protect the most vulnerable from violence and abuse by the powerful. “We demand full and consistent accountability to those principles,” he said. “It is also related to the accelerating climate emergency and intensified competition for essential resources.”

Indeed, Pillay noted, resource scarcity is expected to become the dominant cause of war in the 21st century. 

“People of faith have a key role to play in demanding the protection of children in war, ensuring humanitarian access and assistance to conflict-affected communities, and insisting on accountability for all violations – especially those impacting children and their futures – as a matter of fundamental moral responsibility as well as legal obligation,” he said. “I urge you to engage with all your faith and wisdom to tackle the root causes of wars, including the climate and environmental emergency which threatens all children everywhere.”

Aim of the initiative "Stand Up for Children n War" is to mobilize faith leaders, religious communities and civil society to stand up for children affected by war, advocate for their protection, and promote compassion.