A/HRC/19/51 of force by security forces. The delegation obtained limited information concerning the circumstances of these attacks. 31. The delegation received information regarding cases of individuals allegedly tortured while in Government custody in detention centres in Sanaa. At least two of the cases concerned people held in secret detention centres controlled by the Central Security Services. The delegation interviewed two victims with visible signs of torture and who claimed to have been subjected to sexual abuse while in detention. In Ta’izz, the delegation met with civilian and security personnel who claimed to have been tortured by armed opposition groups. 32. The delegation also noted the continued and widespread use of child soldiers within the ranks of forces under Government control. The Minister for Defence and the Minister for the Interior challenged the allegations, reiterating that the recruitment of children under the age of 18 into Yemeni forces was against the law. They did, however, pledge to investigate this matter and to promote measures to end the practice and to demobilize those who had already been recruited. The delegation was informed that the new Minister for Human Rights had personally written to a number of Cabinet members and leaders of armed groups requesting them to desist from using children in their forces. A children’s rights organization claimed that it had recorded statements against the recruitment of children from the same leaders, to be broadcast on television. 33. In the assessment mission conducted in June 2011, the delegation called on the Government to refrain from actions that deprived the population of such basic services as electricity, fuel and water, and to take action to help restore basic services. The partial removal of security barriers and checkpoints across Sanaa is a welcome development that enables a tangible yet limited return to normality. The delegation received a number of allegations concerning security forces targeting water and/or electricity providers; this information could not, however, be verified. The delegation also received information that the Government at times occupied structures destined for civilian use; for example, in Ta’izz, Government forces were alleged to have occupied the Thawra Hospital (the largest in the governorate of Ta’izz and responsible for providing health care for the vast majority of the inhabitants of Ta’izz) for several days and used a nearby health institute to position tanks engaged in shelling areas inhabited by civilians and Freedom Square. 34. In the assessment mission report, the delegation also advised the Government to devise a programme for the protection of all those affected by the long-standing conflict in Saada, particularly internally displaced persons. Progress in this regard has been hampered by the partial restrictions, imposed by the Houthi group holding de facto power in Sa’dah, on the activities of humanitarian agencies. One of them, Médecins sans frontières, was prevented from continuing its work and effectively expelled, under the apparently spurious justification that the building it was operating from was urgently needed. Humanitarian workers told the delegation that their deliveries were hampered by frequent disruptions and that they were also prevented from entering Dammaj, which was under siege by the Houthis. It should be noted, however, that the rate of return of people originating from Sa’dah who had fled to outside temporary camps or were staying in hosting households has been faster than expected. B. Human rights violations allegedly committed by armed opposition groups 35. The Security Council, in its resolution 2014 (2011), and the delegation that conducted the assessment mission in 2011 both recommended that armed opposition groups should remove all weapons, ranging from small firearms to rocket launchers, from public 10