Protecting Children’s Safety: Key Strategies and Policies to Reduce Crime

Hebah Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

One of the consequences of the conflicts and unrest plaguing Yemen is that children are exposed to significant challenges and risks that threaten their safety and security. In this complex reality, strengthening children’s safety requires intensive efforts and innovative strategies to reduce crime rates and their negative impacts on Yemeni society.

This report explores the key strategies and policies implemented to enhance children’s safety in Yemen, highlighting the efforts of relevant authorities in combating crime and protecting children. We also examine national plans designed to achieve this goal and crucial community initiatives.

Strategies to Improve Children’s Safety

Waddah Abdallah Al-Sabri, a lawyer at the Coordination Body for Child Rights Care in Ibb Governorate, says: “Important national policies and strategies in the field of preventive motivation to reduce crime rates among children are crucial for achieving positive and sustainable change in Yemeni society. However, implementing these policies requires financial support and the collective effort of everyone, starting with children’s families and extending to decision-makers in the country.”

He continues: “To achieve preventive motivation, we must first identify the shortcomings and reasons behind the high crime rates. For example, when we explore the causes of the prevalence of murder among children, we find that encouraging families to carry weapons is one of the main reasons. As for crimes like begging, pickpocketing, and some moral crimes, there are multiple causes, including dropping out of school, the spread of divorce, lack of parental supervision over mobile phones and internet use, as well as the difficult economic conditions faced by families and society. All of these factors require a comprehensive approach and significant efforts that may not be easy.”

He pointed out that there is a state-level focus on addressing this issue, including directing internet cafes to prevent children from entering. However, this alone is not enough; the policies and strategies implemented must include comprehensive measures that enhance awareness and education among families and provide opportunities for education and vocational training for children. They must also include appropriate policies to strengthen parental supervision and provide a safe and stimulating environment.

Ghamdan Abu Daiba, director of Family Protection in Ibb Governorate, also stated: “Effective awareness and prevention strategies have been implemented to protect children in society, particularly in schools, in collaboration with students, parents, and the police. We implemented the “Friends of Children” police programs that aim to educate children about the importance of safety and protection. We coordinated efforts with specialized bodies in social affairs and security agencies to implement awareness programs, as well as collaboration with the media to disseminate awareness and important information.”

He continues: “From 2019 until today, we have conducted field visits to schools in coordination with the Education Office, targeting 76 schools and 8,000 teachers in awareness sessions with parents. Currently, we are coordinating with universities and the Ibb Governorate Security Administration to educate university students about child protection and preventing the spread of wrong behaviors.”

Also, the social guidance manager at the Juvenile Detention Center in Ibb Governorate, Mamdooh Al-Haj, said: “Regarding national policies and strategies, the government has worked on several aspects to reduce the crime rate among children. Orphanages, safe childhood centers, and social guidance centers have been established to care for and rehabilitate juveniles. The aim was to contain, care for, and raise children with good morals, and release them into society as good individuals.”

He pointed out that this policy or strategy has played a significant role in reducing the prevalence of crime among children by containing them and providing them with comprehensive care, including humanitarian, educational, and health care.

He continues: “Coordination has also been made with relevant authorities and organizations to support child protection programs. Among the most important of these programs are the four protection issues: abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination. Several projects have been implemented under these issues, including case management for vulnerable children. Support and counseling are provided to children suffering from fourteen specific problems according to the support process. A case management study is conducted for each child who falls under one of these problems.”

For his part, Mustafa Al-Humaidi, director of the Juvenile Detention Center in Taiz, said: “Since the establishment of the center until 2023, the center has received 177 juvenile children. The center has provided many services to all inmates without discrimination or shortcomings, with the support of the Social Affairs and Labor Office, the Taiz Governorate Security Administration, and the Family Protection Department in the Governorate’s Security, despite the difficult economic conditions and the lack of a special budget for the center or operating expenses.” Mustafa and his fellow supervisors and specialists at the center hope that 2024 will be a year that fulfills many wishes and overcomes challenges for the children in the center, and that the situation at the center will improve for the children, by providing all the necessary needs and requirements for their care and rehabilitation in various fields, especially since he is seeking to achieve the desired goals of the existence of the Juvenile Detention Center for children. According to Al-Humaidi, there is a serious move by official authorities to provide a new suitable location for the center in the next phase.

Services and Activities

In the context of discussing the activities implemented by the Juvenile Detention Center in Taiz Governorate, Al-Humaidi says: “We’ve got a lot of programs and activities that have been running for years, and they continue to this day. They include psychological and social support for the kids, with cognitive behavioral therapy, health care, legal assistance, education, sports and recreation, and economic empowerment programs for the families of the children in the center, supported by UNICEF. There was also a winter clothing project for 13 kids, funded by Qatar’s Red Crescent.”

Awareness Programs and International Cooperation

Talking about awareness programs and international cooperation, Al-Haj explains, “We’ve carried out awareness programs to combat juvenile delinquency. The Family and Child Protection Department at the Ministry of Interior supervised the technical committee for Children’s Justice at the Ministry of Justice in executing these programs. The programs included awareness messages delivered both in person and through the media.”

He adds, “We also ran awareness campaigns in places children frequent, like internet cafes, arcades, hotels, rest stops, and shisha and tobacco shops. We’ve boosted cooperation with international organizations and partners to strengthen child protection, exchange best practices, and hold joint workshops and seminars, targeting children aged 7 to 15. The aim is to raise awareness, and improve policies and procedures related to child protection.”

He notes, “In addition, we’ve strengthened training and development for professionals working in the field of child protection, including those in government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector. We’ve provided specialized training programs to equip these professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to deal with child protection issues effectively.”

Al-Haj mentions a specific project implemented at the center as part of its protection programs. “It focuses on social integration and reunification for orphans and disadvantaged children. This project, implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, includes creating safe, friendly spaces, providing psychological support for children, and running the ‘Building My Positive Personality’ program, implemented by the center’s management. This program is part of the ongoing efforts, tailored to our available resources.”

Difficulties and Challenges

Many juvenile detention center managers in various governorates have confirmed that the challenges and difficulties facing these centers in Yemen cannot be ignored. These challenges stem primarily from the lack of adequate operating expenses since August 2015, as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Al-Haj said, “While we are committed to strengthening child protection and expanding awareness efforts, we must address our challenges and work to overcome obstacles to achieve lasting positive outcomes in protecting children in our society. Continued serious cooperation between law enforcement agencies and those operating in violation of the law, allocating more operating expenses, and strengthening awareness and education in all governorates will significantly impact reducing the incidence of crimes committed by children, promoting their safety and well-being.”

In the context of his discussion, Al-Humaidi explains the difficulties hindering the work at juvenile detention centers in Taiz, including: “Limited resources, lack of an independent budget for the center, absence of specialized sections for rehabilitating juvenile offenders, lack of transportation to transport inmates to and from security and judicial authorities and health centers, lack of psychosocial support, such as recreational games, and lack of uniforms for children in the center.”

Colonel Ghamdan Abu Dhaiba concluded by saying, “To ensure child protection, joint efforts must be intensified between schools, parents, security agencies, social affairs, and the media. It’s also essential to strengthen awareness and education regarding the importance of children’s safety and rights, encourage community intervention and reporting of any violation of child rights, enhance psychological and social support for children facing difficult circumstances or who have been abused, and provide the necessary programs and services for children and their families.”