The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is being observed today. 

The United Nations General Assembly, during a special emergency session on Palestine on August 19, 1982, decided to commemorate this day, in shocked reaction to the then violence against Palestinian and Lebanese children caused by Israel's attack.

The purpose of this day is to address the physical, mental, and emotional suffering that children around the world endure and to ensure their protection. 

The United Nations has shown commitment to protecting the rights of children in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Even today, many children around the world are affected by conflict, extremist violence, exploitation and impunity.

The Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030, adopted in 2015, has set clear goals for the protection of children. It includes a plan under Goal 16.2 to end all forms of violence, take strong action against exploitation, neglect, and abuse.

The United Nations has stated that ending and preventing grave violations against children is central to the mandate on children and armed conflict. The most effective way to protect children from hostilities is to eliminate the push and pull factors that lead to their involvement in armed conflict.