Yemen launches comprehensive national plan to protect children with $351 million.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

The Yemeni Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor launched today the "National Child Protection Plan 2026-2029" under the slogan "Childhood without protection... a future without security," during an official ceremony in the temporary capital, Aden, attended by a number of ministers, officials, and representatives of international organizations. The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr. Muhammad Al-Zouari, affirmed that the launch of the plan coinciding with the International Children's Day is "a clear message that Yemen is moving forward in protecting its children," noting that child protection represents "a fundamental pillar for building a safe country and a prosperous future, and a collective moral and humanitarian responsibility." Al-Zouari explained that the plan represents the culmination of comprehensive national efforts in the preparation of which the Ministry's team participated in partnership with UNICEF, academics from the universities of Aden, Hadramout and Taiz, international experts and civil society organizations, with the aim of "strengthening an integrated system to protect children from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect." The Minister revealed that achieving the objectives of the plan requires funding of approximately $351 million, to meet the needs of only 20% of children in need of protection services, which is approximately 504,000 children, in addition to building the capacities of approximately 27,000 national cadres in various sectors. For her part, the Director of the UNICEF office in Aden, Dr. Sahar Hijazi, praised "the sincere efforts of the Yemeni government in serving the Yemenis, especially women and children," recognizing the joint efforts that contributed to the preparation of the plan. The plan focuses on 12 Yemeni governorates, and provides a comprehensive vision for developing child protection conditions in the short and long term, through the achievement of seven strategic objectives that include strengthening the legal framework, the knowledge base, the services provided to children and their families, and alternatives to social care.