Exploiting the Gaza war for mobilization and militarization.. Human rights coalition confirms that the Houthis continue to recruit children in Yemen

A human rights coalition confirmed that the Houthi militia continues to recruit children in Yemen and indoctrinate them with the culture of death and killing, and exploits the Gaza war to intensify these operations, stressing that these practices are a "crime against humanity" and must stop immediately.

This came in a statement by the Justice Charter for Yemen Coalition, on the occasion of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, which falls on February 12 of each year.

The 10 organizations that signed the statement expressed their deep concern about the continued recruitment and use of children in military operations in Yemen by all parties, especially the Houthis, during the war, which is entering its tenth year.

The statement published by the "Rasd Coalition" stressed the need to protect the rights of children in Yemen, who are subjected to violations "in a worrying manner", stressing that "the recruitment of children and their involvement in military operations is a crime against humanity, and must stop immediately."

According to reports by the Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations (Rasd Coalition), 7,171 children were recruited, including 48 children who were injured on the battlefronts, 5,552 children who were killed during combat and military operations, 503 children who are still on the battlefronts, 907 children whose fate is still unknown, and 161 children who returned to their families during the period from September 2015 to September 2024.

The statement said, "Despite the pledge to stop this practice in April 2022, the Houthis continue to recruit children using propaganda and subjecting them to military training and cultural courses that work to brainwash them and indoctrinate them with a culture of death and killing, especially through summer camps."

He added: "In 2024, the Houthis continued to organize summer camps in the cities under their control, which are a major entry point for recruitment and mobilization operations."

The statement indicated that the Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations (Rasd Coalition) documented an increase in the recruitment of children since the Houthis began their attacks on the Red Sea in November 2023, as the Houthis exploit the war in Gaza and the Yemenis' sympathy for the Palestinian cause to mobilize and recruit children.

The statement pointed out that during the period from October 7 until the date of the statement, the militia held 3 training courses, each lasting 3 months, in many governorates under the control of the Houthi group, and many children from these courses did not return to their families.

The human rights coalition called on the international community to stand with the children of Yemen and demand an end to the recruitment of children and hold those responsible for these violations accountable.

The statement called on the Yemeni parties to fulfill their national and international obligations towards protecting children, by immediately stopping the recruitment of children and their use in military operations; protecting, demobilizing and reintegrating former child soldiers into their communities; and accelerating the implementation of the United Nations plan to end and prevent the recruitment of children by all parties.

He also called for ending the use of schools, educational facilities, mosques and summer camps for recruitment and mobilization purposes, including ending the use of school activities to brainwash children, incite them or expose them to extremist ideas.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that all those involved in violations against children are held accountable, through their prosecution, and providing justice and appropriate compensation to the victims.