A/HRC/21/37 attention of the delegation was also drawn to the fact that, in some cases, children were recruited by armed groups in mosques. 44. The fragile security situation and civil unrest kept schools under attack. Between January and June 2012, 247 incidents were recorded, affecting some 172 schools. In particular, schools in Aden came under attack as they were being used as polling stations during the presidential elections. Six schools in Hasaba, near Sanaa, continued to be occupied by armed forces or armed groups. 45. Violence and insecurity in the governorate of Abyan resulted in displacement to surrounding areas, including Aden, Lahij and inside the governorate itself. In the governorate of Aden, numerous schools were being used to house internally displaced persons. While local residents demanded that schools be vacated by the beginning of the new school year, local authorities did not agree on alternative hosting facilities for displaced persons. In addition, serious concerns were expressed over the security of the places of origin of such persons, where landmines and unexploded ammunition have already claimed the lives of many, among them 17 children, since the beginning of 2012. Women’s rights F. 46. During the period under review, women activists were intimidated and harassed by both pro- and anti-regime groups, in some cases receiving death threats. Defamation campaigns and threats of slander were used to deter women activists from participating in demonstrations and sit-ins, or from expressing their opinions in newspapers or on the Internet. 47. Despite the above violations, the events of 2011 contributed to the empowerment of women, enhancing their presence in the public sphere and providing the opportunity to push the agenda of women’s public participation further. A national conference for women, organized by the National Women’s Committee and the Ministry of Human Rights, called for the protection of women in conflict, gender equity in transitional justice processes and greater political participation for women (a quota of at least 30 per cent quota) in all transitional political bodies and ensuing legislative and executive institutions. 48. During the current national dialogue discussions, however, many women activists remained concerned that the country’s political fragmentation had had an impact on the women’s rights agenda, leading to the definition of different priorities among various women’s groups on the basis of political affiliation rather than of actual needs. 49. In addition, the fragile security situation has severely affected women’s economic and social rights, particularly when male family members have been killed. Cases of harassment and sexual gender-based violence were being increasingly discussed, though rarely reported to the police or to hospitals. Many of the people interviewed pointed to the lack of trust in police stations and the uncertainty about the integrity and professionalism of police officers deterred women from filing complaints of harassment. G. Vulnerable groups 50. At the end of 2011, the Muhamasheen community 12 went on strike from their usual work as sanitation workers. In April, the Prime Minister and other officials in Sanaa and Ta’izz promised that they would finally receive permanent contracts and social benefits, but 12 See A/HRC/19/51, para. 45. 13