A rights seminar warns of a collapse in Yemen’s education system and calls for international pressure on the Houthis.

International Human Rights Seminar Calls for Action on Houthi Violations

A recent international human rights seminar, organized by the Yemeni-Dutch Center for Human Rights, the Yemeni Teachers’ Union, and the Yemeni Victims’ Network, urged the global community to exert effective pressure on Iranian-backed Houthi militias. The seminar aimed to address the systematic violations against education and called for the establishment of international monitoring mechanisms to protect schools from military targeting.

Focus on Education Under Threat

Held via video conference under the title “Education Under Fire: The Impact of Houthi Crimes on the Future of Yemeni Children,” the seminar highlighted the urgent need to support alternative education programs in liberated areas and refugee camps. Participants emphasized the importance of documenting violations and referring them to international courts. They also advocated for strengthening the role of media and civil society in exposing Houthi practices against the educational process.

Education Crisis in Yemen

Participants noted that education in Yemen faces its most critical phase in contemporary history. The Houthi militia has transformed schools into battlefields and ideological indoctrination centers. Thousands of educational facilities have suffered damage, and teachers have not received salaries since 2016. This situation has led to a severe loss of educational expertise and deprived millions of children of their right to education.

Dangers of Summer Camps

The seminar also discussed the dangers posed by “summer camps” organized by the militias. These camps serve as tools for recruiting children and indoctrinating them with extremist ideologies. Additionally, the Houthi militia has converted schools into military barracks and weapon storage facilities. Teachers face harassment, arrest, and even death, while children are forcibly recruited to fight on the front lines. These practices have been documented by various international organizations.

Sectarian Ideology in Education

Speakers warned against the introduction of sectarian ideologies into educational curricula through amendments that threaten social cohesion and foster hatred. They asserted that these policies aim to create a generation indoctrinated into the Houthi agenda, distancing them from the values of citizenship and civil state.

Call for International Support

The seminar concluded with a strong appeal to the United Nations and international organizations to intensify their efforts to halt these violations. Participants called for the rehabilitation of schools and financial and moral support for teachers.

This urgent call to action underscores the critical need for international intervention to safeguard the future of education in Yemen and protect the rights of its children.

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