Since August 15, the UN has received reports of children still in the ranks of the de facto authorities, as well as attempted child recruitment and use by ISIL-KP.
The SG’s January report on Afghanistan ( S/2022/64) highlights acute concerns over children’s heightened vulnerability to exploitation and abuse due to the economic crisis, including child labor, early marriage, and recruitment and use. After August 15, children comprised nearly all civilian casualties from explosive remnants of war (ERW) and were disproportionately harmed during improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. From January to November 2021, children made up 29 percent (2,150 children) of all civilian casualties in Afghanistan, most occurring prior to August 15, when military operations between the Taliban and Afghan national security forces ceased. In March, UNAMA’s mandate is up for renewal, pursuant to SCR 2596 (2021). Of these, Taliban forces and affiliated groups are additionally listed for attacks on schools and hospitals and abductions, and ISIL-KP is also listed for attacks on schools and hospitals. The Haqqani Network, Hizb-i Islami of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP), and Taliban forces and affiliated groups are each listed in the annexes of the Secretary-General’s (SG) latest report ( S/2021/437) on children and armed conflict (CAAC) for recruitment and use and killing and maiming of children.