The Challenge of UNICEF in Attempt to Eradicate The Human Rights Violation in Yemen: The Case of Child Soldiers in Armed Conflict Situation (2014-2022)

Abstract

Yemen is one of the countries that has been involved in armed conflict situation that began in 2014 and still continues to this day where children also take part becoming a child soldiers. Children were recruited from schools, poor areas, urban centers, and detention centers; through lectures, financial incentives, or after being kidnapped. In 2018-2020 as much as 1,900 children have been recruited to join the armed forces. This situation becomes more urgent for the international community, especially IGOs that need to be involved in this issue, more spesifically UNICEF, as part of an international organization. Therefore, this study acts to find out UNICEF's strategies and challenges in protecting children's rights. This research is a qualitative research using liberal institutionalism theory. The results of this research indicate the challenges of UNICEF, that comprises of the Yemeni government, the Houthi rebels and AQAP with strategies to deal with them ranging from investigations and monitoring to negotiations and funding. UNICEF has also succeeded in reducing the number of recruitment of children in collaboration with International Non-Governmental Organizations and NGOs to protect children's rights in Yemen.