The United Nations verified 27,180 grave violations against children in armed conflict in 2022, affecting 18,890 children in 24 situations and one regional arrangement it monitored, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Of the 27,180 grave violations, 24,300 were committed in 2022 and 2,880 were committed earlier but verified in 2022. Of the 18,890 children affected, 13,469 were boys, 4,638 were girls and 783 of sex unknown, shows the UN secretary-general's annual report on children and armed conflict.

The highest numbers of violations were the killing and maiming of 8,631 children, followed by the recruitment and use of 7,622 children and the abduction of 3,985 children. Nearly 2,500 children were detained for actual or alleged association with armed groups.

The highest numbers of grave violations were verified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Yemen, says the report.

Verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated against children (1,165 children) dropped by 12 percent, but such violence continued to be vastly underreported, it says.

The denial of humanitarian access remained high, with 3,931 verified incidents. Verified incidents of recruitment and use increased by 21 percent, abductions by 15 percent and killing and maiming by 5 percent. The use of live ammunition against children and the excessive use of force increased, in particular in Israel and Palestine, and Myanmar, it says.

There was a 112 percent increase in attacks on schools (1,163) and hospitals (647), in particular in Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Israel and Palestine, Myanmar, Mali and Afghanistan.

While non-state armed groups were responsible for 50 percent of grave violations, government forces were the main perpetrator of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access, says the report.

Blatant and systematic disregard for international humanitarian law and international human rights law continues to severely affect the protection of children. Among the factors having the most severe impact was the use of explosive weapons, which led to greater child casualties and damaged schools and hospitals, says the report.

The use of explosive ordnance represented some 26 percent of the methods used in the killing and maiming of children. Mine action operations are challenged and disrupted by insecurity and restrictions on movement and access, it says.