The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (YCMHRV), in cooperation with the Executive Unit for IDPs Camps Management and with the DT Institute funding, organized on Friday, 25 April 2025, a seminar on the legal and psychological awareness, in the interim capital, Aden, for child victims of displacement and their families on the six grave violations and mechanisms for addressing them.

The seminar, "For a Safe Childhood, Addressing the Six Grave Violations, and Achieving Justice for Yemen's Children took place at the Ammar bin Yasser IDP Camp in Dar Sa'd District. The event featured three working papers presented by experts on human rights issues and included a screening of an awareness-raising film about the six grave violations against children.

The first paper was presented by Judge and legal researcher Amr Al-Abdali, who addressed awareness of the six grave violations against children. The second paper was presented by Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari, a member of the National Committee to Investigate Alleged Human Rights Violations, who addressed accountability mechanisms. The third paper, presented by academic and human rights activist Dr. Rania Khaled, addressed psychological and social support for child victims of violations.

During the opening, the Rasd Coalition representative delivered a speech in which he stated that this seminar "comes within the activities of Supporting Awareness, Facilitating Enforcement of Children's Rights in the Yemeni conflict Phase II (SAFE II) project, which is implemented with the DT Institute funding and technical supervision and support." He added: "It also comes in response to the situation of children's rights in Yemen, especially with the ongoing war, which has entered its tenth year, and with the deterioration of the critical humanitarian situation suffered by displaced children and their families as a result of the armed conflict."

Rasd Coalition stressed that: "it always believes and affirms that the first and most important step to safeguard and protect the rights of victims begins with monitoring and documenting violations, to bring the perpetrators to justice." The speech also highlighted the need to continue efforts and pressure to activate accountability for perpetrators of violations, as well as to advocate for children's rights and contribute to effective interventions to protect and care for children in Yemen, provide psychological, social, and legal support, and reintegrate them into society. It also urged families and relatives to protect their children and report the six grave violations to which they are subjected.

In his paper, Judge Amr Al-Abdali presented a comprehensive overview of the six violations in a simplified manner that is consistent with the nature of the target group. He discussed the right to life in international and Yemeni law, addressed the criminalization of murder and assault by law, and expressed his regret over the continued killings, indiscriminately and systematically, despite the existence of these laws. He also pointed to the recruitment of children, their methods, and causes, the most important of which he said is poverty. He indicated that child sexual abuse, which is a crime whose penalty is doubled if the victim is a child, is in addition to child abduction and other violations.

Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari's paper emphasized the importance of the law in protecting children and their families, noting that many families sometimes violate these laws without knowing them. She emphasized that IDPs are not an exception and that the pertinent laws protect them and their children. She emphasized it is important for each family of an abused child to realize that he/she has been subjected to a crime, and they must report it to the security and judiciary to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Al-Maqtari responded to a question on how to act if the police do not respond to reports, saying, "In this case, you should contact human rights organizations to inform them, and they will, in turn, pressure the police by addressing higher authorities and stakeholders."

Dr. Rania Khaled advised the families of abused children on the means of dealing with such cases, also indicating the importance of the family's role in protecting their children. Participating families were urged to monitor their children and note changes in their behavior, such as not playing as usual, withdrawal, fear, nightmares, sleep terrors, declining academic performance, fear of people, and not eating. Advice was provided on how to deal with these situations.

The symposium was well attended, with 35 families participating with their children. During the concluding discussions, several participants emphasized the importance of continuing such initiatives and expanding their scope to include more camps and IDP communities, to enhance child protection and empower families to address the challenges and difficulties they face under the current humanitarian circumstances.