Photo: UNICEF

Progress

• Continued commitment of the Government to protect children, including through the implementation of the 2014 Action Plan and 2018 Roadmap to end and prevent child recruitment and use, and welcome efforts in applying the 12 February 2020 presidential directive and the 3 March 2020 military directive, including plans to establish child protection units;
• Continued engagement of the Coalition with SRSG CAAC to sustainably end and prevent grave violations against children in Yemen;
• Continued dialogue between the Houthis and the United Nations to develop an action plan to end and prevent grave violations against children;
• Handover protocol signed in April 2020 by the Houthis, as well as the release of 68 children;
• Training and high-level workshop on child protection conducted in March and May 2021 by OSRSG CAAC with the Coalition.

Challenges

• Continuing rise in the number of grave violations, including the recruitment of children, particularly by the Houthis, and persistent high numbers of children killed and maimed, and increase in denials of humanitarian access;
• Persistent level of grave violations by the Government;
• Although decreased, incidents of airstrikes resulting in child casualties, including those being investigated by the Coalition, are concerning.

Recommendations

For the Houtis:

• To promptly finalize and sign Action Plan;
• To continue implementation of handover protocol and release of additional children.

For the Coalition:

• To pursue the implementation of the March 2019 Memorandum of Understanding and related programme of time-bound activities endorsed in January 2020;
• To continue to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law;
• To swiftly conclude investigations and ensure investigations are undertaken for all incidents with child casualties;
• To expedite justice, accountability and redress to child victims and their families.

For all parties:

• To abide by their obligations and responsibilities under international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
• To end and prevent violations and allow and facilitate safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access to children;
• To declare a nationwide ceasefire, and continue engagement with UN Special Envoy for Yemen towards the resumption of an inclusive political process to reach a comprehensive negotiated settlement to end the conflict and bring lasting peace to Yemen, and to include child protection concerns in the peace process.