Seyaj Organization for Child Protection welcomes the historic decision of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Yemen, Field Marshal Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, to prohibit the recruitment of children under the age of 18 in #Yemen.
Seyaj affirms that the President’s decision today represents a victory for children’s rights and the culmination of its efforts and those of its partners in combating #child_recruitment since 2009. It calls for designating November 27th of each year as a national day against the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts in Yemen. Seyaj also welcomes the position of the Yemeni government, headed by His Excellency Mohammed Salem Basendwah, regarding the enactment of legislation and practical measures to prevent the exploitation of children in armed conflicts. Siyaj expresses its deep appreciation for the role played by the United Nations in this regard, through UNICEF Yemen, as well as the pivotal role played by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Leila Zerrougui, and previously by Mr. Jamal Benomar, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Yemen.
Siyaj also expresses its profound gratitude to the friendly government and people of Germany, represented by its embassy in Yemen, for their support of Siyaj’s efforts to combat child recruitment. Siyaj hopes that the decisions of the President of the Republic and the positive directions of the government will be translated into national legislation that aligns with relevant international laws. This legislation should then serve as the basis for practical measures and procedures to demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers in the regular forces, armed groups, and tribes, thereby preventing the exploitation of any child in armed conflicts in the future.
Issued by: Siyaj for Child Protection – Sana’a – November 27, 2012
