Yemen’s Lost Generation: How Child Soldiers Are Fueling the Civil War
How the civil war and the gun culture in Yemen have robbed thousands of children of their childhood and future.
Introduction:
The ongoing civil war in Yemen has resulted in a humanitarian crisis that affects millions of people, especially children. One of the most disturbing aspects of this conflict is the widespread use of child soldiers by the Houthi rebels, who control most of the northern part of the country. According to a report by the Associated Press, thousands of boys, some as young as 10, have been forcibly recruited as child soldiers in Yemen’s civil war, most by Houthi rebels who push the children into combat at the front lines. The boys describe fighting and killing in battle, traumatized by seeing the often mangled bodies of the dead.
The recruitment of child soldiers in Yemen violates international law and human rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as anyone under the age of 18 and prohibits the involvement of children in armed conflict. The UN has also listed the Houthis as one of the parties that commit grave violations against children, such as killing, maiming, recruiting, and using them as human shields. The UN has called for the immediate release of all children associated with armed groups and the provision of protection and rehabilitation services for them.
One of the factors that facilitate the recruitment of child soldiers in Yemen is the widespread availability of guns in the country. Yemen has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world, with an estimated 60 guns per 100 people. In 1992, the Yemeni government passed a Law Regulating Carrying Firearms, Ammunition & their Trade. Article 9 of this law states that: The citizens of the Republic shall have the right to hold the necessary rifles, machine guns, revolvers, and hunting rifles for their personal use with an amount of ammunition for the purpose of legitimate defence. However, this law has been poorly enforced and many people acquire guns illegally or inherit them from their families. Guns are seen as a symbol of status, power, and protection in Yemeni culture, and many children grow up with guns in their homes or communities.
The proliferation of guns in Yemen has contributed to the escalation of violence and insecurity in the country and the exploitation of children by armed groups. The Houthis often lure children into joining their ranks by offering them money, food, or guns, which are scarce and valuable in the war-torn country. Some children join the rebels out of fear, loyalty, or revenge, or because they have no other options. Once they are recruited, the children are indoctrinated, trained, and sent to the front lines, where they face death, injury, or capture. The children are also exposed to physical, psychological, and sexual abuse by their commanders or fellow fighters.
Here are some statistics about child soldiers in Yemen:
According to a report by the Yemen-based NGO “Mwatana for Human Rights”, more than 1,000 Yemeni children have been forced to fight in the civil war in 2018. This includes children as young as 10 years old.
According to the United Nations, the Houthi rebels have recruited and used more than 100 children, some as young as six, in the conflict in 20152. Yemen analyst Hisham al-Omeisy estimated that 30 to 40 per cent of the Houthi fighters are under 18, and 15 to 25 per cent under 162.
According to the UN, an estimated 517 children were recruited in Yemen during 2016. In 2017, however, this number expanded to 842. This includes children as young as 11 years old. In total, an official tally approximates that around 2,369 children have been used in combat since 20153.
Conclusion:
The use of child soldiers in Yemen is a tragedy that must be stopped. The international community should exert more pressure on the warring parties to end the recruitment and use of children in the conflict and to respect the rights of children. The UN and other humanitarian organizations should also provide more assistance and support to the children who have been affected by the war, such as education, health care, counselling, and reintegration programs. The Yemeni government and civil society should also work to reduce the demand and supply of guns in the country, by enforcing stricter laws, raising awareness, and promoting a culture of peace and non-violence. The children of Yemen deserve a better future, one that is free from war, violence, and exploitation.