Children and Drones: The Expansion of Unmanned and AI-Enabled Warfare and the Threat to Children’s Survival, Protection and Recovery

The policy brief examines how armed drones, loitering munitions, persistent surveillance and AI-supported targeting increasingly threaten children’s lives, mental health, education and access to healthcare in conflicts such as Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. It calls for stronger application of international humanitarian law, meaningful human control, child-centred safeguards, responsible arms transfers and sustained investment in protection and recovery.