Bearing Witness: Témoignage as a Tool for Child Advocacy during Armed Conflict
Anik Patel et al
Abstract
Children affected by armed conflict suffer devastating physical, emotional, and social harm. War uproots families, forcing many to flee as refugees or internally displaced persons, while others remain trapped in dangerous environments. In these crises, children face disproportionate risks-violence, exploitation, disrupted education, and collapsed healthcare systems. Their unique vulnerabilities require urgent, targeted action to protect their health, rights, and development.
Beyond immediate care, the humanitarian principle of témoignage-bearing witness-is essential. Rooted in humanitarian ethics, témoignage means speaking out about injustice, amplifying the voices of those affected, and driving systemic change. It challenges traditional notions of neutrality and calls on humanitarian professionals to ethically advocate for those they serve.
Pediatricians and pediatric organizations have a moral duty to ensure that children affected by conflict are seen, heard, and not forgotten. This commentary calls for recognizing children's distinct humanitarian rights and urges global pediatric societies to take action….
