Report: Iran-backed Houthis recently recruit 116 Yemeni children

The National Committee for Investigating Governmental Allegations of Human Rights Violations revealed that it has documented the recruitment of 116 children under the age of 18 by the Irani-backed Houthis between August 1, 2022, and the end of July 2023.

The committee that submitted its 11th report to the president of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, held the Houthis responsible for recruiting these children in combat fronts, checkpoints, guarding military and security headquarters. Meanwhile, the government and affiliated entities were only held accountable for one case of child recruitment.

The report stated that the government committee was concerned about this type of violation, especially with the availability of many photos showing the use and recruitment of children during armed conflict, either directly participating in combat or providing assistance to fighters, especially in the capital city, Sanaa, and the provinces of Sa'ada, Ibb, Al-Jawf, and Amran, which exposed those children to danger.

Recruiting children is considered a grave violation prohibited by national legislations and international conventions concerned with the protection of children, particularly the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" ratified by Yemen, and its first Optional Protocol which prohibits the use and recruitment of children in armed conflicts, in addition to the "Yemeni Law on the Rights of the Child" which is in line with the convention.

The United Nations team of experts on Yemen (the Sanctions Committee) confirmed in its latest report submitted to the United Nations Security Council that the Houthis recruited and trained 1201 children between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022.