The INSAF Center for Rights and Development, with support of DT Institute under the SAFE II Program, has released a new investigative human rights report documenting grave violations against marginalized and displaced children in Yemen between 2019 and 2025.
Based on field monitoring across six governorates, the report reveals 45 documented cases involving children exposed to rape, killing, abduction, forced recruitment, and denial of humanitarian aid. Many of the victims were from impoverished and marginalized families displaced by conflict, facing extreme vulnerability due to poverty, loss of caregivers, and lack of access to education and legal protection.
The findings underscore a disturbing pattern of systematic abuses—often involving multiple violations in a single incident—and highlight the role of both state-affiliated and non-state actors. Over 62% of the documented cases were linked to military formations associated with the internationally recognized government, while the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) was responsible for several serious incidents including child recruitment and physical assault.
The report calls for:
- Equal access to education, health, and legal services for marginalized children.
- Urgent psychological and social support for survivors and families.
- Establishment of independent accountability mechanisms to investigate violations by all parties.
- Stronger protection measures and awareness campaigns to end child recruitment and exploitation.
This report reaffirms the need for collective action—by authorities, civil society, and international partners—to protect Yemen’s most vulnerable children and uphold their rights under national and international law.
đź”— Read the full report
