Yemen

The Houthis (who call themselves Ansar Allah) are listed in the annexes of the SG’s latest report on CAAC for recruitment and use, killing and maiming, and attacks on schools and hospitals. Security Belt Forces, Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, and pro-government militias, including the Salafists and popular committees are also each listed for recruitment and use. In 2023, the UN verified 809 grave violations against 666 children (546 boys, 120 girls), including the recruitment and use of 173 children, killing and maiming of 479 children, sexual violence against 24 children, 37 attacks on schools and hospitals, the abduction of 4 children, and 92 incidents of the denial of humanitarian access. In July, the SG is expected to report to the Council on Yemen, pursuant to SCRs 2201 (2015) and 2722 (2024). The SG, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and others have all called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff and civil society workers detained in Yemen by the de facto Houthi authorities, including in June. The targeting of humanitarian, human rights, and development workers impedes efforts to reach civilians, including nearly 10 million children, in need of humanitarian aid. The Security Council should:

• Call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN and civil society workers, and demand that all parties fully comply with obligations under IHL and IHRL, including allowing and facilitating the immediate, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to children and other civilians in need;
• Reiterate support for continued dialogue towards a comprehensive and inclusive peace process that includes meaningful child participation and protection measures, pursuant to SCR 2427 (2018) and drawing on the Practical Guidance for Mediators;
• Call on all parties to fully and swiftly implement their respective action plans and other concrete commitments to end and prevent grave violations against children, including the Government of Yemen’s 2014 action plan to end and prevent recruitment and use and the 2018 roadmap and the Houthi’s 2022 action plan and handover protocol; call on the Security Belt Forces and the Amaliqah Brigades to continue to participate in activities under the 2014 action plan and 2018 road map and for the full commitment of groups affiliated with the Presidential Leadership Council to the action plan and road map;
• Call on all parties to swiftly and fully implement the recommendations of the SCWG-CAAC, as elaborated in its third conclusions on Yemen; support efforts to ensure sustainable financial resources for child protection activities and programs in Yemen, including for the implementation of warring parties’ commitments and of the SCWG-CAAC conclusions and for explosive ordnance removal and risk education.

THE UNITED KINGDOM IS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON YEMEN. 

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – July 2024.

Year listed: 2011
Action Plans signed: Yemen Armed Forces – recruitment and use of children (May 2014)
Sanctions Committee: 2140 Sanctions Committee (Current Chair: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in Yemen: 2021; 2019; 2013
Security Council Working Group conclusions on Yemen: 2020; 2013