Professor Liam Kennedy, of Queen's University in Belfast, hit out after releasing his report, Broken Bodies, Silenced Voices, last week.
"We are the only country in western Europe where armed men are running around attacking children," said Kennedy. "This is happening now; it's not something from history.
"Apart from Save the Children, there has been a lack of moral courage from children's organisations in openly speaking against it. I am hoping charities will form some sort of public alliance against it."
Kennedy's report recounts several assaults, including the beating of a 14-year-old with sticks embedded with nails, all in front of his helpless family.
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