Aden:

Under the title “Child Protection in Yemen: Current Challenges and a Roadmap for Practical Solutions” and under the patronage of the Minister of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, the Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (Rasd Coalition), in partnership with DT Institute and in coordination with the Joint Governmental Technical Committee to Prevent Child Recruitment and the Justice Pact for Yemen, convened the second national workshop on child protection within the activities of the SAFE II Program.

Held in Aden on December 17–18, the workshop brought together more than 60 participants representing local and international civil society organizations, key government institutions concerned with child rights, including the ministry of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Social Affairs and Labor, Education, Defense, Interior, and Public Health ministries, alongside the Public Prosecutor’s Office, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, activists, and human rights researchers. The workshop provided a participatory dialogue focused on addressing grave violations suffered by children during the armed conflict in Yemen.

Specialized papers were presented under various themes, all united by a common concern: protecting and ensuring justice for children in Yemen. Presenters included specialists, government leaders, representatives of international and local organizations, judges, and senior human rights researchers.

In his opening remarks, Mutahar Al-Buthaiji, Executive Director of Rasd Coalition, stressed that child protection in Yemen remains fragile despite existing international commitments. He affirmed that the workshop represents a practical step to bridge the gap between legal texts and actual implementation. “The scale of violations committed against children confirms that the protection system still suffers from deep imbalances, and that international commitments have not yet been translated into effective measures on the ground, which entrenches a culture of impunity unless serious and urgent steps are taken,” he said.

Al-Buthaiji added that through the SAFE II project, Rasd Coalition has worked to monitor and document the six grave violations against children, while also providing psychological and social support to victims and survivors, and strengthening advocacy efforts locally and internationally for accountability and justice.

Firas Hamdouni, Director of Programs at DT Institute, emphasized: “Protecting children’s rights in Yemen must be treated as a fundamental priority, not as a secondary result of political or humanitarian tracks. Children are the foundation upon which all other rights and future stability are built.”

Hamdouni noted that the workshop highlights the urgent need to strengthen coordination between local and international actors, and the vital role played by Yemeni civil society organizations—including Rasd Coalition and the Pact for Justice in Yemen, as well as the necessity of integrating justice and accountability into any political settlement or peacebuilding efforts. He added: “Sustainable peace cannot be achieved without genuine accountability and institutional mechanisms such as establishing a specialized human rights court and a central database of human rights violations, which enhances coordination, prevents duplication, and ensures victims’ and survivors’ voices are heard.” In his view, such conferences provide a key platform for transitioning from dialogue to collective, practical steps that maximize impact for the benefit of Yemen’s children.

Workshop Program

Session One: Children’s Rights in Yemen During Armed Conflict – Frameworks and Roles

• Chaired by Maha Awad; Rapporteur: Nabil Abdu Saif
• Children’s Rights in Yemeni Legislation: Legislative Obstacles and Alignment with International Law – Judge Ingrid Abdullah, Head of Juvenile Court in Aden
• Activating the Role of Judicial Institutions: Prosecutors and Juvenile Courts – Dr. Salwa Berek, Director General of Women and Child Rights, Ministry of Justice
• Role of the Governmental Committee to Prevent Child Recruitment: Achievements, Challenges, and Joint Support Plan – Nabil Abdulhafiz Majid, Deputy Minister of Human Rights, and Brigadier Ali Mohammed Salem, Ministry of Defense
• Violations of Children’s Rights in Education and Protection Measures – Dr. Dina Sadaqa, Deputy Minister of Education

Session Two: Ten Years of Grave Violations and Their Impact on Children

• Chaired by Basem Al-Haj; Rapporteur: Ghada Fadhl
• The Six Grave Violations Against Children and Achieving Justice – Judge Imran Jazim, Legal Researcher
• Violations Against Marginalized and Displaced Children – Salim Al-Aghbari, Representative of Ensaf Organization for Rights and Development
• Transitional Justice and Child Rights: Truth, Reparations, and Non-Recurrence – Judge Mohammed Al-Hitar, Transitional Justice and Human Rights Specialist

Session Three: Protection, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration of Child Victims and Survivors

• Chaired by Judge Shaif Al-Shibani; Rapporteur: Lula Saeed
• Role of Local Civil Society in Providing Psychosocial Support and Reintegration – Review of Government Services – Dr. Rania Khalid, Psychosocial Support Consultant
• Role of International Organizations and UN Agencies in Referral and Community Protection – William Cooley, Head of Child Protection at UNICEF, and Mariam Adnan, Save the Children
• International Advocacy and the Role of UN Mechanisms in Cooperation with Yemeni Civil Society for Child Protection – Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari, Member of the National Commission of Inquiry

Session Four: Drafting the National Roadmap for Child Protection

• Participants divided into three working groups:
  • Group 1: Legislative and legal reforms for children
  • Group 2: Referral, protection, and reintegration of child victims and survivors
  • Group 3: Accountability, transitional justice, and reparations
• Results were presented, and a 10-point National Roadmap was adopted.

Closing

Organizers affirmed that this workshop represents the beginning of a broader path of joint work aimed at placing the best interests of the child at the center of policies and decisions, and turning recommendations into practical, implementable steps that contribute to protecting Yemen’s children and safeguarding their future.

This workshop is part of the activities organized by Rasd Coalition under the SAFE II Project, which seeks to unify efforts to protect children from grave human rights violations during armed conflict by enhancing recognition of their rights locally and internationally and facilitating accountability for perpetrators. The project, implemented in partnership with DT Institute, includes workshops, seminars, training, psychosocial support, research, documentation, and awareness activities.