What is it about?
War has devastating effects on children, leaving them vulnerable to violence, abuse, loss of education, and collapsing health systems. Beyond providing medical care, pediatricians have a duty to speak out and make sure children’s suffering is not ignored. This paper calls on pediatricians and children’s health organizations worldwide to protect kids in conflict by listening to their voices, addressing their trauma, supporting their education, pushing for justice, and using their influence to drive policy change—so that children caught in war are seen, heard, and given a chance at a safer future.
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Why is it important?
This paper is the first to frame témoignage—the act of bearing witness—as a core responsibility for pediatricians in war and crisis settings. At a time when children are suffering disproportionately in conflicts worldwide, it offers a timely and practical seven-pillar framework that goes beyond medical care to include advocacy, trauma support, education, and policy influence. By challenging silence and neutrality, it empowers pediatricians and child health organizations to speak out, protect children’s rights, and drive systemic change—making it essential reading for anyone working at the intersection of child health, humanitarian action, and justice.
Perspectives
This is my first peer-reviewed publication, and I am deeply proud of it. It was an honor to collaborate with this remarkable group of authors, several of whom I have admired for years. It is admittedly a long piece, but one we hope offers both conviction and clarity. At a time when the moral compass of the world feels askew, and people in power are reticent to speak up for what is right, this paper is a reminder of the profound responsibility we carry to raise our voices for children and to bear witness. This isn't just a paper: it is both a manifesto on global child advocacy as well as a call for solidarity and justice. Writing these words helped me find my voice, and I hope they might help others find theirs, too. If the words resonate with you after reading this, please consider amplifying this message by sharing the paper within your networks around the world. Putting these words to paper was itself a risk, and I know that amplifying them may feel risky for you, too. Yet, advocacy often begins with taking that first step of speaking out and speaking up, and I hope this paper helps you find the courage to do so if you haven't already.
Anik Patel
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Bearing Witness: Témoignage as a Tool for Child Advocacy during Armed Conflict, PLOS Global Public Health, September 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004947.
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