A Syrian child in Jordan draws two scenes based on their experiences: "safety", on the left, and "war" on the right.

UK's allies put children's lives at risk

Trade, diplomatic, and military relationships have been prioritised by the UK Goverment, putting children's lives at risk.

Does the UK put children’s rights on the back burner in favour of trade and security objectives? Our new report says yes, it does.  

It's a trend that risks getting worse as the UK seeks to secure its place in a post-Brexit world, where the government is prioritising trade and security over children's lives. 

For example, the UK still allows the sale of British weapons to the Saudi-led coalition despite grave violations—such as schools and hospitals being destroyed, and children being killed—being committed. 

A young boy looks on at the destruction caused by bombs dropped in his local area in Yemen.
A young boy looks on at the destruction caused by bombs dropped in his local area in Yemen.

More than 5,000 children have been killed or injured in just over three years of fighting in Yemen, the equivalent of five children every day. 

Despite these deaths the UK continued with a £10bn trade deal with Saudi Arabia, including weapons that could be used in the conflict in Yemen. 

Our new report reviews how children's rights in war are promoted, protected, or diminished, and what priority does the UK Government give them. 

The UK's role in protecting children's rights is inconsistent. In one way, the aid budget promotes these values, while at the same time it provides arms or training to groups who are violating them.  

Children's rights must be a top priority in its foreign policy. There is no excuse. 

A child draws their experiences of war in the Central African Republic.
The first rocket fell on the hospital gate. The sound was terrifying. I saw the bodies of people. Even my father was killed. I was afraid so i ran away to the mountains
Yasser, aged 12, Yemen

UK's role in preventing horrible acts against children is graded in our report, which takes into account diplomacy, aid, development, military, and trade. 

There are three grades: green, amber, and red. 

Green means the UK is helping to prevent grave violations and is holding states accountable. 

Amber shows that the UK’s record is mixed; sometimes it helps protect children, sometimes it names and shames those who are committing horrific acts against them; and sometimes it doesn't.  

Red puts shame on the UK Government: its actions undermine the prevention of grave violations and it fails to hold states accountable. 

The UK government scored amber for its work in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, and red for its work with the Saudi-led coalition. 

"The UK has a clear choice: to be a respected ally it must be a critical friend; that means standing up for British values and the rights of children in war," says Hannah Stoddart, director of advocacy and communications, War Child UK. 

Selling arms sales could be stopped to those countries that are tearing children's lives apart; or the UK could be bolder and defend British values abroad by holding more states to account.