Ian McLeod: ED's Response to Yemeni Children

ED Fore's Response to the children of Yemen


SANA'A, Yemen, 24 October 2019










UNICEF Yemen conducted a press briefing yesterday to present the ED's response to the children’s letter. The call on Wednesday came as UNICEF held a ceremony in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, as part of events marking the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The event was covered by over 20 journalists and the initial coverage spanned across international and local media channels.


UNICEF Yemen Representative Sara Beysolow Nyanti conducted the briefing with 5 of the children, and used the opportunity to read the ED's response. The children had written to the ED after their training on their rights. All of the children who participated in the training have one or more vulnerability.


When they read their letter to Ms. Nyanti, she asked the children to hold her accountable to deliver their message to the ED and provide them with a response. "We are very grateful for your handwritten response to the children," said Ms. Nyanti, addressing ED Fore. "You increased these children’s hope in duty bearers; and of course helped me to live up to my promise."


"Together we will work to make sure (children's) rights are fulfilled. That they can believe in their future in Yemen," said Ms. Nyanti.


Also present at the press briefing were five children, part of a group of 20 minors who, earlier this month, wrote a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore to demand their rights.


"We, the children, who have learned about the Convention on the Rights of the Child wish to live in peace because we are afraid of war and afraid of the explosions. It is our right to live in peace and to have all the rights mentioned in the Conventions," the children wrote.


Fore said on Wednesday she was "deeply moved and honoured" by the letter. "We want the dreams that you describe to come true. We all want an end to the war in Yemen. We are listening, UNICEF is with you every step of the way."