THE HOUTHI MILITIAS RECRUITMENT AND USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS: LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND CHALLENGES

The recruitment and use of child soldiers by Houthi militias in armed conflict present significant legal and humanitarian challenges. This paper examines the legal implications of these actions, focusing on the applicable international legal framework and the potential avenues for accountability. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) unequivocally prohibit the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18 in armed forces. These prohibitions are enshrined in treaties such as the Geneva Conventions Additional Protocols; Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); Optional Protocol to the CRC on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (2000) (OPAC), and as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Moreover, the paper uses a doctrinal approach research design to systematically collect and analyze numerical data. The goal is to measure the extent of the problem, examine the legal consequences, and identify the challenges related to the recruitment and use of child soldiers by the Houthi militias. Furthermore, evidence suggests that Houthi forces have recruited children, deployed them in combat roles, and subjected them to various forms of abuse. These actions constitute war crimes under ICC, and individuals within the Houthi hierarchy may be held criminally responsible. However, bringing perpetrators to justice faces significant challenges, including the ongoing conflict, limited access to evidence, and political obstacles. This study underscores the urgency of addressing the Houthi's use of child soldiers and the importance of ensuring accountability for these grave violations of international law.