A Proposal
The Global Treaty for the Absolute Protection of Children from Warfare
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Today, over 460 million children live in conflict zones—1 in 6 children globally, according to UNICEF.
In 2022 alone, over 27,000 grave violations against children in armed conflict were verified by the UN.
In the last decade, over 120,000 children have been killed or maimed in war zones. That’s the equivalent of a child every 40 minutes. (Save the Children)
89.3 million people were forcibly displaced as of 2023 due to conflict and violence—nearly half of them are children. (UNHCR)
ZERO Draft for the Treaty
Overview
The Zero Draft of The Global Treaty for the Absolute Protection of Children from Warfare represents a bold and unprecedented step in international child protection. Unlike existing conventions that regulate the conduct of war, this treaty proposes a radical shift: to prohibit warfare altogether in any territory where children reside. It is built on the principle that the mere presence of children should serve as a deterrent to armed conflict.
The Policy Brief outlines the urgent need for the treaty due to the high number of children affected by conflict. It highlights legal gaps in current protections, and calls for criminal accountability, peaceful conflict resolution, and global enforcement. It positions the treaty as a bold step to ensure that no war can ever touch a child.
The Zero Draft proposes a global treaty that absolutely bans warfare in areas where children are present, making such acts internationally prosecutable. It introduces Child Protection Zones, extends legal protection to caregivers, and establishes a global oversight body to monitor violations. The goal is to make the presence of children a legal barrier to war.
"No child should ever need courage to survive a war they didn’t start. The true measure of peace is how fiercely we protect those too young to defend themselves"
DUMEBI ONUORA
Charity Trustee
The Rufina Children's Foundation
JOIN US
This treaty is a legal document and a moral declaration that war should never happen where children live.
We welcome families, volunteers, non-profit organisations, leaders and citizens of the world to join us in supporting this treaty. Your voice, presence, and advocacy can help turn this vision into international law.
Our team is available and honoured to accept invitations and opportunities to speak, collaborate, and engage in meaningful discussions about the treaty and its global impact. Together, we can protect the future of every child starting now.
Current global frameworks, including the Geneva Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, while significant, do not go far enough. They aim to mitigate the impact of war on children—but they do not prevent war from occurring around them. This treaty changes that paradigm.
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Today, over 460 million children live in conflict zones—1 in 6 children globally, according to UNICEF.
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In 2022 alone, over 27,000 grave violations against children in armed conflict were verified by the UN. These include killing, maiming, abduction, and recruitment as child soldiers.
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Children in conflict zones are 3 times more likely to die from preventable diseases, 4 times more likely to miss out on education, and suffer lifelong trauma, displacement, and loss.
This is not just a humanitarian crisis—it is a moral and legal failure of the global community.
Why is a Treaty Needed
This treaty is not about better rules of war but also is about removing war from the lives of children entirely. It introduces a new legal standard that prioritizes the absolute protection of children over the political interests of nations or armed groups.
Key features of the draft treaty include:
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A categorical ban on military aggression in any nation or territory where children are present.
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The establishment of Child Protection Zones (CPZs) that are internationally recognized and monitored.
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The imposition of criminal accountability under international law for violators, with prosecutorial pathways through bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC).
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Clear obligations for member states to peacefully resolve disputes, promote disarmament, and enforce sanctions against aggressors.
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A focus on prevention, not just response but an area where current instruments fall short.
The Rufina Children’s Foundation, as the lead proponent of the treaty, is currently engaging communities, families, civil society organizations, legal experts, and world leaders across continents to gather insights, refine the treaty text, and build consensus. The aim is to ensure that the treaty reflects the voices of those most affected and becomes a truly global, people-powered initiative. It will transition from zero to first and second drafts. A finalized version will be sponsored at the United Nations.