Marib, Yemen – August 28, 2025
An awareness workshop in Marib has shed light on the serious challenges facing displaced children in Yemen and provided families with tools to better understand their rights and support mechanisms. The event, titled “For a Safe Childhood – Confronting the Six Grave Violations and Achieving Justice for Yemen’s Children,” was organized by the Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (YCMHRV – Rasd Coalition) with support from the DT Institute, and brought together more than 140 participants, including children, families, rights advocates, and psychosocial experts.
Speakers outlined the six grave violations against children—killing and maiming, recruitment, sexual violence, abduction, denial of humanitarian aid, and attacks on schools and hospitals—and explained how these crimes not only destroy the present lives of children but also threaten Yemen’s future. A short documentary produced by YCMHRV, screened during the workshop, left a strong impact on the audience by vividly illustrating these violations.
Participants emphasized the need for specialized psychological support in Marib, where displaced children suffer from trauma, depression, and even severe mental health conditions without access to treatment. “Our children have seen war, loss, and displacement. They carry invisible wounds. This workshop helped us see that their protection requires both legal accountability and urgent psychosocial care,” said Fatima Mohammed, a displaced mother.
Another participant, Abdullah Ali Ahmed, called the workshop “an eye-opener,” stressing that displaced parents need continued training on reporting mechanisms and children’s legal rights to shield their families from further harm.
The event achieved wide resonance, drawing media coverage from major Yemeni TV channels and online platforms, which broadcast testimonies from families and experts. Organizers noted that the visibility gained through media engagement is critical for amplifying children’s voices and keeping their protection high on the public agenda.
In closing, YCMHRV emphasized that protecting children from grave violations is a shared responsibility requiring families, communities, local authorities, and international actors to work together to ensure justice, accountability, and healing for Yemen’s youngest victims of war.
