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, pro-government militias, including the Salafists, and popular committees, and Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, are also each listed for recruitment and use. The Security Council receives a monthly briefing on Yemen, pursuant to SCR 2747 (2024). Since May 2024, the Houthis have detained over 50 United Nations, diplomatic, and NGO personnel. In late January, the group captured eight more UN staff members, among them a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member who died in detention on February 10, 2025. In addition, recent US military airstrikes in Yemen have resulted in the deaths of ten people, including four children, and injuries to over 20 in the northern Saada Governorate. 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 the Government of Yemen, the Security Belt Forces, the Amaliqah Brigades and all groups affiliated with the Presidential Leadership Council to fully and swiftly implement all relevant activities under the Government’s 2014 action plan and 2018 roadmap, including the adoption of a handover protocol on the release of children detained during military operations, further capacity-building for officers and a complaints mechanisms; 
• Call on the Houthi’s to fully and swiftly implement the 2022 action plan and handover protocol, in close collaboration with the UN, notably to continue conducting age assessments in recruitment centers and training of officers on child protection and granting unimpeded access for the UN to all places of detention of children.

THE UNITED KINGDOM IS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON YEMEN.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – April 2025.

In May, the SG released his fourth report on the situation of children and armed conflict in Yemen (S/2025/113), covering the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. During this time, the United Nations verified 5,539 grave violations against 2,422 children (1,997 boys, 425 girls), including 193 children who were victims of multiple violations. The most prevalent violation was the denial of humanitarian access (2,806 incidents), followed by killing and maiming (1,941) and recruitment and use (564). The UN also verified 118 attacks on schools and hospitals, 64 abductions, and 46 cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence. Explosive ordnance caused the majority of child casualties, accounting for 69 percent of children killed or maimed, while the military use of 158 schools and 13 hospitals was also documented. The report notes a significant decline in violations following the 2022 UN-mediated truce and subsequent action plan implementation, as well as an overall decline in the total number of verified grave violations as compared to the previous report which covered a shorter reporting period. However, access restrictions and fear of reprisals continued to limit verification. The Working Group Should:

• Strongly condemn all grave violations and abuses that continue to be committed against children in Yemen, and demand that all parties uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL;
• Reiterate calls for safe, timely, and unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations, including children;
• Urge all armed groups to immediately release all children under 18 from their ranks and end and prevent all child recruitment and use; reiterate that children associated with armed forces and groups should be treated primarily as victims, and their reintegration should be prioritized;
• Urge the Government of Yemen, the Security Belt Forces, the Amaliqah Brigades and all groups affiliated with the Presidential Leadership Council to fully and swiftly implement all relevant activities under the Government’s 2014 action plan and 2018 roadmap;
• Call on the Houthi’s to fully and swiftly implement the 2022 action plan and handover protocol, in close collaboration with the UN, notably to continue conducting age assessments in recruitment centers and training of officers on child protection and granting unimpeded access for the UN to all places of detention of children;
• Call on all parties to immediately cease attacks and threats of attack on educational and health facilities and personnel, as well as to refrain from the military use of schools.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – June 2025.

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