At present, one in six children are now living in areas impacted by armed conflict and are more at risk from armed conflict now than at any other time in the past 20 years1. The devastating acute and long-term impact on the neurologic development and mental health of these innocent children is immeasurable and often irreversible.
The International Child Neurology Association (ICNA) community of child neurologists throughout the world unite to provide every child with a healthy start and optimized potential in a peaceful, open and understanding world where conflicts are resolved through rational discussion and respectful diplomacy. War is the ultimate failure of humanity and a catastrophic legacy for our next generation.
The ICNA strongly objects to any violence against children. War should not be used to resolve political conflict. The government responsible for this aggression must stop it immediately, in the interest of the children of the Ukraine and all other affected persons.
Our dear colleagues in countries involved in this conflict should know that we strongly support any attempt to end these atrocities, and further develop international cooperation in child neurology. The rapidly expanding aggression already involving ‘voluntary fighters’ from North Africa carries the risk of this evolving into a conflict devastating our planet and extinguishing human life.
The ongoing aggression in the Ukraine is not only directed against a single country, but against all open societies. A world-wide scientific network like the ICNA can only thrive in an open society.
#ENDWARONCHILDREN
1Kamoy, K., Podieh, P., & Salarkia, K. (2021). Stop the war on children: A crisis of recruitment. 1–67. http://icnapedia.org/s/1a
