UN Report Documents 742 Grave Violations Against Children in Yemen During 2025
UN Report Documents 742 Grave Violations Against Children in Yemen During 2025
The United Nations Secretary-General stated in his annual report on Children and Armed Conflict, released on Thursday, that the UN verified 742 grave violations affecting 652 children, including 550 boys and 102 girls, during the period from January to December 2025.
The report noted that the number of violations recorded during the past year significantly exceeded those documented in 2024, when 583 grave violations against 504 children were verified.
According to the report, the violations included killing and maiming of children, recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, sexual violence, attacks on schools and healthcare facilities, the military use of educational and health facilities, obstruction of humanitarian assistance, detention of humanitarian workers, and the seizure of their offices and equipment.
The report indicated that 431 children were killed or injured during the year, including 150 deaths and 281 injuries. It stated that 35 percent of these violations were attributed to unidentified perpetrators, while the Houthis were responsible for 23 percent and government forces and affiliated armed groups for 19 percent.
The report further noted that airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel resulted in 102 child casualties, either killed or injured. Explosive weapons caused 140 child casualties, while drone attacks led to an additional 112 child casualties.
Regarding child recruitment, the United Nations documented the recruitment of 262 children, including 259 boys and 3 girls. Of these, 188 were used in direct combat roles, while others were assigned various support functions.
The report stated that 52 children were killed or maimed while associated with armed groups or forces. At the same time, 115 children were successfully separated from the armed groups or military forces with which they had been affiliated.
The report also recorded 12 cases of sexual violence against children and 10 attacks targeting schools and hospitals. In addition, 71 educational and health facilities were used for military purposes, including 63 schools and 8 hospitals. The report noted that the majority of these incidents were attributed to the Houthis.
Furthermore, the United Nations verified five cases involving the deprivation of liberty of children, as well as 27 incidents of denial of humanitarian access and 20 incidents involving the detention of humanitarian personnel or the confiscation of humanitarian offices and relief supplies, most of which occurred in areas under Houthi control.
