A/HRC/45/CRP.7 verified the cases of two boys (aged 13-16) used in hostilities in Abyan Governorate. The Group also received credible reports of two additional boys (aged 13-16) recruited and used by those forces. 255. The boys’ families told the Group that their sons joined the Special Security Forces in Shabwah out of economic necessity, as they were their families’ primary breadwinners. This rendered the boys vulnerable to recruiters’ salary offers ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 Yemeni Riyals.374 “Our family was in a difficult economic situation and needed the money from the promised salary and hoped that our son would stay close to home.” Father of a recruited boy375 256. The boys received calls or texts messages instructing them to report to base in Ataq to collect their salaries. Instead, they were driven 300 km southeast, to Shoqrah, Abyan. From 13 May to 9 June 2020, they fought against STC-affiliated forces (allegedly the 3rd Brigade of the Security Belt Forces). During combat, two of the boys were captured and detained in Aden by STC-affiliated forces, and one was allegedly killed in battle. On the other side of this frontline, the Group also received allegations of four boys (aged 10 to 16) recruited by Security Belt Forces, with one captured and detained in Ataq by the Special Security Forces. 257. Additionally, the Group received allegations of 20 boys who were recruited and used by other parties to the conflict present in the south, namely STC-affiliated groups (Security Belt Forces and Shabwah Elite Forces), other UAE-backed forces (Giants Brigade), and Yemeni Armed Forces, as well as by unidentified armed groups.376 More investigations are needed in this regard. Recruitment and Use of boys by the Houthis 258. The Group documented Houthi recruitment and use in hostilities of 174 boys (aged 7 to 17) between June 2015 and February 2020, in all Governorates under their control, through well-organised, strategic and widespread campaigns in schools and detention centres, via abduction in poor, urban areas, and via peer recruitment. Of these 174 boys, the Group verified 11 individual cases of boys (aged 13 to 16). The wide scale and pervasive nature of recruitment of boys by the Houthis is further documented in the Secretary-General’s reports, which found the Houthis responsible for recruiting the highest number of boys among all parties to conflict in Yemen (439 boys in 2019; 1,924 boys between April 2013-December 2018).377 “Imagine the shock and horror of the situation, when a kid no more than 15 years, who has never seen a battle before, witnesses over 30 people killed, and scores injured… Now, at the mere sight of a weapon or any form of violence, he changes. Truly. He’s so afraid that he can’t even leave the house.” Brother of a former Houthi child soldier378 Methods of Recruitment 259. The Group of Experts documented five methods used by the Houthis to recruit boys, including those verified to be as young as 13, and others allegedly as young as seven.379 a. Organised child recruitment campaigns in schools and summer camps 260. Since 2016, and particularly following cuts to teachers’ salaries in September 2017, Houthi Mobilisation Committees at the governorate level worked with the Ministry of Education (MoE) officials to pressure school principals and teachers to integrate mandatory Houthi ideology and recruitment propaganda activities into schools in Sana’a, Rayma, 374 Confidential sources on file. Confidential source in file. 376 Confidential sources on file. 377 UN Secretary-General Report 2020 para. 186 and United Nations, Secretary-General Report on Children and Armed Conflict in Yemen, S/2019/453, 3 June 2019, paras. 18 and 21. 378 Confidential source on file. 379 Confidential sources on file. 375 68