Yemen

Government forces, including Yemeni armed forces, and four non-State armed groups are listed for violations in the annexes of the SG’s 2020 annual report on CAC. In a widely criticized decision, the SG removed the Saudi-led coalition from the annexes of his latest report for killing and maiming children, despite UN-verified evidence of the coalition’s responsibility for 222 child casualties in 2019. NGOs have urged the SG to reconsider his decision and to consistently apply existing criteria for listing and de-listing. On June 15, two airstrikes in northern Yemen reportedly killed 13 people, including at least four children. In July, UNMHA’s mandate expires, pursuant to SCR 2505 (2020). According to OCHA, more than 30 core UN humanitarian programs in Yemen have been downsized or closed since mid-April, leaving 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance extremely vulnerable. On June 21, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths condemned military escalation across Yemen, claiming that it goes against the spirit of ongoing UN-facilitated negotiation and impedes efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Security Council should:

• Strongly condemn the continuing violence, including grave violations against children; urge parties to commit to a full cessation of hostilities and work towards a comprehensive and inclusive peace process that includes meaningful child participation and protection measures, pursuant to SCR 2427 (2018) and drawing on the 2020 Practical Guidance for Mediators;
• Demand that all parties immediately cease indiscriminate attacks, and attacks on hospitals, education facilities, and other protected civilian infrastructure in violation of IHL, and allow safe, unimpeded delivery of principled humanitarian aid to all civilians in need, including children;
• Call upon the Government of Yemen to implement fully and without delay the December 2018 roadmap aimed at revitalizing its action plan to end and prevent child recruitment and use, immediately release all children within its ranks, and prioritize the establishment of age assessment mechanisms; urge all other listed parties to sign and implement timebound action plans to end and prevent grave violations;
• Call for an impartial, transparent, and objective assessment of how the SG applied the criteria for de-listing as set forth in the 2010 annual report (A/73/907-S/2010/181), pursuant to SCR 1882 (2009), in his recent decision to remove the Saudi-led coalition.

The United Kingdom is the lead country on Yemen. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the lead on the 2140 Sanctions Committee.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update: July 2020.