UNICEF: Strengthening Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism to prevent and respond to grave violations against children in Yemen


Accountability for grave child rights’ violations in Yemen will be strengthened through the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Children and Armed Conflict. Support will be provided for the collection, analysis and reporting on grave violations against children and the use of evidence and data for advocacy. Additionally, implementation of the Action plans signed by two parties to the conflict will be supported. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Yemen
Conflict & fragility
Human rights
Child soldiers (CAAFG)
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
25.10.2022 - 24.10.2024
CHF  965’379
Background Despite the recent truce agreement, grave child rights violations continue to severely impact the protection of children. According to the 2022 report of the SG on children in armed conflict, the highest number of grave violations are reported in few countries, including Yemen.  Since the beginning of the conflict until December 2021, the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) has been able to document and verify violations, including over 10,200 children who have been killed (3,450) and maimed (6,750) and 3,826 children used and recruited by parties to the conflict as combatants and in various support roles. Two Action Plans were signed between the UN and the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) in 2014 for the recruitment and use of children and with the Houthis in 2022 for killing and maiming, recruitment and use of children and attacks against schools and hospitals. The government forces were later conditionally delisted in 2022.
Objectives Children in conflict affected Yemen are protected from six grave rights violations through children and armed conflict programmes including accurate and timely monitoring, reporting, advocacy and dialogue.
Target groups The project has multiple target groups: children and families affected by the conflict; MRM technical team supported by this project; CTFMR members in Yemen; and Joint Technical Committee members from IRG and the Houthis as well as UN members States through the Yemen CAAC Group of Friends.
Medium-term outcomes The protective environment for children affected by the armed conflict improved and sustained by strengthened monitoring and reporting mechanism and by evidence-based advocacy through UN Security Council, CTFMR, Yemen Group of Friends for Children and armed Conflict (CAAC) and by the implementation of the action plans to end and prevent grave child rights violations.
Results

Expected results:  

1.1)    Existing functional monitoring and reporting system strengthened to systematically and timely document, verify, and report grave rights violations as per the UN Security Council Resolution 1612 and other subsequent Security Council Resolutions.

1.2)    Active engagement and advocacy of the CTFMR with the parties to the conflict, the Office of SRSG CAAC and Member States to improve the protection of children from grave violations.

1.3)    Implementation of the action plan/s with parties to the conflict supported and effectively coordinated by the CTFMR to mitigate grave violations against children in Yemen.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Children’s Fund


Coordination with other projects and actors This project foresees a systematic engagement with parties to the conflict; it complements SDC’s policy engagement on protection and on children and armed conflict. Field level insights gained through this project will inform SDC’s support to the CAAC agenda at regional and global level.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    965’379 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    972’511