Lawyers and rights defenders agreed on the need for Yemen to enact national legislation criminalizing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and establishing deterrent penalties for perpetrators.
This conclusion came out of a discussion session organized by Seyaj in cooperation with the Yemeni Bar Association as part of its campaign against child recruitment. Participants also stressed the need to align all national laws with international treaties and conventions, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Speakers emphasized the importance of media and rights organizations in raising awareness, and called for joint action with government institutions and international organizations to demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers and create alternatives through education and vocational and economic rehabilitation.
Seyaj said it intended to develop the discussion outcomes into a formal proposal for legislation to be submitted to the relevant authorities.
