Presidential decree establishing a fund for recovery of victims injured or killed in the 1994 war and the Saada wars

This presidential decree was issued in 2013 amidst the “Arab Spring” period and the National Dialogue Conference in Yemen. The decree aimed to aid the victims of human rights violations who were impacted in the 1994 war and the Saada war. The fund’s objective is to provide reparations to victims in an effort to promote national reconciliation. However, regarding implementation, the fund was started two years prior to the conflict that escalated in 2015, and its benefits have not been realized.

Per the decree, the fund is to be managed by a board, with day-to-day operations overseen by an executive director. Funding will come from various sources, including government allocations, donations, and investments. The decree consists of 21 articles that address the following issues:

1- Establishment, key terms, purpose, and scope (Articles 1-4): Discusses the establishment of the fund, key terms used in the decree, and the scope of implementation.

2- Funding and finance (Articles 5-10): Details all financial aspects of these funds and dissemination channels, along with financial regulation and management procedures.

3- Administration (Articles 11-17): Details roles, structure, and responsibilities of the managing board of directors and associated implementation entities.

4- Concluding provisions (Articles 18-21): Includes all closing provisions.

The fund that this law aimed to establish was related to response and recovery from specific armed conflicts in Yemen, aiming to address the consequences of these conflicts, including injuries, displacement, unaccompanied/separated children, and loss of livelihoods, all of which relate to aiding in the protection of children from violations of their rights during armed conflict. This decree also aimed to promote reconciliation and transitional justice, an aspect that can be critical in addressing the roots of grave violations against children.