A/HRC/21/37 or intending to cooperate with international entities, including the United Nations. Ministry officials allegedly requested that the language in the constitutive documents of the above groups be modified. Most groups reluctantly complied with such demands or looked for ways to accelerate the registration process. 39. The creation of several new political parties and other political groups is also a welcome development, as it should generate a more diverse spectrum of political opinion, while also indicating that groups that previously not take part in the political process, including in the presidential elections, now intend to do so, including independent youth groups, liberals and groups described as representing the Salafists or the Houthis. D. Judiciary 40. In late January 2012, judges and prosecutors across the country went on a strike that lasted for over two months and led to the suspension of all court proceedings and related judicial functions. As a result, in March, the President issued two decrees concerning the judiciary: the first announcing the restructuring of the Supreme Judiciary Council through the appointment of new members; the second confirming a series of appointments and promotions that affected some 1,425 judges and prosecutors. The strike ended on 30 April, despite the mixed reactions to the decrees. Most judges interviewed stated that they had agreed to resume their work out of their social commitment rather than because they had been convinced by the measures taken. 41. The independence of the judiciary authority remained a major concern. According to the Judiciary Act of 1991, the Executive Authority retains the power to select members of the Judiciary Council, has budgetary control and maintains a level of influence within the Council itself through the membership of the Minister for Justice and other ex officio members (including the Prosecutor General and the Head of Judicial Inspection, who is also accountable to the Minister for Justice). Another issue is the need for proper vetting of judges and prosecutors, given the way that appointments and promotion of judges have been conducted over recent decades and the interference of the Executive. 42. During the period under review, various draft judiciary acts were before the Parliament for deliberation, including a draft bill providing for a limited amendment to the Judiciary Act that would allow for separation between the positions of the Head of the Judiciary Council and the President of the Supreme Court. 10 Children’s rights E. 43. Information received by the delegation indicates that, despite the commitment made by Government forces and armed groups to release children that had been conscripted, no concrete action was taken to that end and enlistment continued during the period under review.11 According to the information received, most of the children were lured into armed groups with the promise of a better life and financial incentives. Family reasons or poverty and mistreatment by relatives were also reported as causes to join armed groups. The 10 11 12 Currently, the Head of the Supreme Judiciary Council is also President of the Supreme Court and the Head of the Judges’ Club. According to information received by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), from 1 January to 30 June 2012, 12 children from Abyan were recruited by Ansar al-Sharia, three by the al-Houthi armed group and two by the First Armoured Division.