Persecuted Christian children suffer an alarming situation

The situation of persecuted Christian children is alarming and increasingly serious, according to the 2024 Open Doors report. In the past year, numerous cases of physical violence, discrimination and psychological abuse against these minors have been documented. One of the most shocking data is the increase in persecution in countries such as North Korea, Nigeria and Afghanistan, where Christians face constant attacks, kidnappings and even murder.

Christian children suffer systematic marginalization that deeply affects their development. They are often subject to ridicule and verbal violence in schools, which damages their identity and pressures them to abandon their faith. In many cases, they are forced to participate in the majority religion or show loyalty to the State, which distorts their life choices and fundamental rights.

In places such as sub-Saharan Africa, jihadism has exacerbated violence, resulting in attacks on Christian property and an increase in the kidnapping of children to be used as soldiers or in human trafficking. Nigeria stands out for the high number of Christians killed, accounting for 82% of global Christian homicides in 2023. Christian churches and schools have also been targeted, with over 14,766 incidents reported in the past year.

Furthermore, Christian children are used as commodities by armed groups in conflict zones, with many forced to become soldiers or perform forced labor and sexual services. This exploitation not only violates their human rights, but also attempts to uproot the Christian faith from future generations by preventing children and young people from accessing education and the practice of their religion.

In short, the persecution of Christian children is not only an attack on their faith, but also on their integral development and fundamental rights, creating a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention from the international community.