A/HRC/27/44 Council from the executive power, was amended moving some of the competencies traditionally under the Minister of Justice to the Supreme Judicial Council.17 42. On 28 March 2014, a nationwide strike of judges was initiated. Judges continue to lament poor working conditions and fear for their personal safety. The strike was triggered by the kidnapping on 26 March 2014 of a judge inside the court premises in Hajjah Governorate. The strike ended on 27 May 2014 following an agreement between the Supreme Judicial Council and the Judges’ Club to undertake comprehensive reforms in the judicial system. The Club recorded a total of 63 attacks against judges during 2013, and 58 attacks in the first quarter of 2014, including death threats, armed attacks inside courtrooms, kidnappings and physical and verbal harassment. G. Children’s rights 43. The National Dialogue Conference Outcome Document introduced important recommendations on children’s rights and proposed guidelines and standards to be adopted in the new Constitution. Those included establishing adulthood at 18 years and setting the minimum age for marriage at 18 years. The Outcome Document called for the prohibition of recruitment and use of children in military groups. It also highlighted other child rights issues including their right to education, the rights of disabled children, the prohibition of the juvenile death penalty, the prohibition and criminalization of female genital mutilation, stressing the best interests of the child in all actions and decisions relating to children. Following the adoption of the Outcome Document, a draft Child Rights Law was prepared by a committee chaired by the Ministry of Legal Affairs and presented on 14 May 2014 to the Cabinet for approval. 44. On 14 May 2014, the Government of Yemen signed an Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children by the Yemeni Armed Forces.18 The Action Plan set out concrete steps to release all children recruited by government security forces, reintegrate them into their communities and prevent further recruitment. Currently, followup mechanisms are being established as defined in the provisions of the Action Plan. These include a Joint Technical Committee composed of relevant ministries, the Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the civil registration authorities, together with United Nations representatives. The main objective of the Committee is to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of the Action Plan. Military and civilian focal points have been appointed to supervise the Committee. Additionally, an interministerial task force for children will be set up to address core issues around children and armed conflict. 45. Despite some progress made, children continue to be recruited by various armed forces and armed groups. Four parties in Yemen, particularly Al Houthi/Ansar Allah, proGovernment militias, Government forces and Ansar al-Sharia have reportedly been recruiting children.19 According to UNICEF, during the reporting period, 122 boys were 17 18 19 According to the new amendments, the following authorities were transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Supreme Judicial Council: nomination of Supreme Court judges; appointment and transfer of judges; control over the Judicial Inspection Body. In addition, the Minister of Justice no longer retains the right to send warnings to judges. The Action Plan was signed by the co-chairs of the United Nations country task force on monitoring and reporting grave violations of children’s rights in situations of armed conflict, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Yemen and the UNICEF Representative; and on part of the Government, the Minister of Defence, Chief of General Staff, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Ali Al-Ashwal. The signing was witnessed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Prime Minister of Yemen. See the Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/67/845–S/2013/245). 11