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Written question asked by Jo Cox on Tuesday, 14 June 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 June 2016. It was answered by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) on Friday, 1 July 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the constructive engagement of the Saudi-led coalition with the UN on the question of its de-listing as a state or armed group that violates children's rights during conflict.

Answer

[This question was tabled before the sad death of the Honourable Lady but the subject remains important and the Government’s response ought to be placed on the public record.]

The UN Secretary General’s annual report on Children in Armed Conflict was published on 2 June. The report includes a section outlining the impact of the conflict in Yemen on children.

The conflict in Yemen has had a significant impact on children, in terms of the numbers of child casualties, the recruitment of children as soldiers, and attacks on hospitals and schools.

We note the announcement by the UN Secretary General on 6 June that removed the listing of the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition from the report’s annex, pending the conclusion of a joint review by the UN and Saudi Arabia on the cases and numbers cited in the text. We welcome co-operation between the UN and Saudi Arabia to look in to this matter.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
40580
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Children Children's rights Saudi Arabia Yemen Military intervention
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk