NOOR SURIB

Yemen - Violence against children is on the rise in Yemen. 6 in 10 children between the ages 2-14 globally are regularly subjected to physical punishment, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

A father reportedly killed his three-year-old son named Osman on February 3 in a village of Dhale Governorate, Yemen. According to reports we received, the man killed his son to punish his wife, who left the house due to violence against her.

He also tried to kill his other children

The man also tried to kill his five-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son but the children managed to escape from their father to a safe place. The father was then arrested by police. After the incident was heard in the Dhale Governorate, dozens of people held a march to demand the punishment of the father.

End violence

Dr.Anjila Almaamari, president of the Center of Strategic Studies to Support Women and Children, spoke to JINHA about the increasing violence against children in Yemen. “This incident will not be the last incident because domestic and family violence increases in the community suffering from conflicts and war. Children will continue to be subjected to violence because they cannot protect themselves. In order to stop violence against children, those who commit violence against children should be severely punished and psychological support should be provided for the victims of violence,” she told us.

We need a legal reform

Speaking about the Yemeni Children’s Rights Act 2002, Safaa Murad, a human rights defender, said, “According to Article 146 of the Children’s Rights Act 2002, the parents have legal and legislative rights to discipline their children. Violence against children is a crime and children will continue to be subjected to violence if parents have the right to discipline their children. We need legal reform to protect children.”

“Those who commit violence against children are aware of the current law, which protects the perpetrators, and this has caused the death of dozens of children in Yemen,” Huda Al-Sarari, president of the Defense for Rights and Freedoms, said, stressing that the crime against children will continue to be committed unless the country has deterrent penalties and laws to protect children.