UN draft report blacklists Saudi coalition for violations against children in Yemen

Recognition of moves to improve child protection branded a sop by campaigners as Saudi-led coalition accused of recruiting child soldiers and bombing schools

Karen McVeigh
Wednesday 4 October 2017 18.29 BST

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen has been included in a draft version of the UN’s annual blacklist for grave violations against children in conflict.

The report, parts of which have been seen by the Guardian, conceded that the coalition has put in place measures to improve child protection.

It is the first time the annual study has distinguished between parties that have introduced measures to “improve the protection of children” during the reporting period and those that have not, a move campaigners have seen as an attempt to reduce controversy.

The coalition’s inclusion in the UN list means all parties to the Yemen conflict will be named for violations. The infractions identified included the recruitment of child soldiers, bombing of schools and hospitals, and the killing and maiming of children.

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