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This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
Yemen has ratified the CRC, though it is unclear whether the Convention has the force of law. Moreover, several provisions of domestic legislation are inconsistent with the CRC, and the Convention has not been used in courts. Children may bring civil or administrative lawsuits to court to challenge violations of their rights only with the assistance of their guardian, trustee or caretaker, or by a lawyer appointed by their guardian. Children’s testimony, however, is not admissible in court, except in disputes amongst children in which there are no adults involved. Legal aid for children is not available, and pro bono legal assistance is limited. The judicial system and rule of law in Yemen are weak, with frequent political interference with the judiciary, and enforcement of judgments against certain authorities being problematic. There is currently no independent human rights institution to investigate complaints about children’s rights violations, though a law to establish such a body has been drafted.
