Statement on the occasion of World Children’s Day

“Today, November 20th, marks the International Children’s Day, a significant occasion celebrated by Mayyun Human Rights Organization to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In Yemen, we are both morally and legally compelled to highlight the challenges faced by children since the conflict began nearly a decade ago, and the threats to their future given the current circumstances. As 2024 draws to a close, we are alarmed by the statistics reflecting the impact of the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Over 2.4 million children are out of school, with nearly a million having dropped out. More than two thousand schools have been damaged or repurposed, putting eight million school-aged children at risk of leaving the education system, including over a million displaced children. We must also acknowledge the continued grave violations of children’s rights in Yemen by various parties, particularly the Houthi group. These violations include killing, maiming, recruitment, rape, kidnapping, destruction of schools and health facilities, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. In this regard, we warn against the Houthi group’s continued use of schools, educational environments, and public facilities for recruitment, spreading hate speech and racism, while perpetrators of these violations remain unpunished and unaccountable. The Mayyun Organization seizes this opportunity to emphasize that striving for a better future for Yemeni children begins today, not tomorrow. This can be achieved through a commitment to providing support and care by promoting education, healthcare services, and protection initiatives, as well as resuming peace efforts. Issued by Mayyun Human Rights Organization
November 20, 2024