A/HRC/42/CRP.1 694. In December 2017, children fighting alongside Houthi fighters in the al-Bayan area of Shabwah governorate were captured by Yemeni armed forces and affiliated groups, and transferred to al-Khusheineh prison in Ma’rib without having had charges brought against them.1093 The Group, while extensively documenting the torture and other forms of illtreatment committed by UAE-backed Security Belt forces, found that a 15-year-old boy arrested by the Security Belt forces in Aden in May 2019 died in detention as result of torture.1094 Of great concern is the number of children held in Aden at Bir Ahmed Prison II under control of the UAE-backed Security Belt forces. In this facility, at least 11 children formerly associated with the Houthis remain held incommunicado in custody, without any formal charges, some since 2015.1095 695. According to first-hand information, Houthi fighters also tortured children in Sana’a, including through sexual abuse. A 16-year-old boy was arrested in May 2015 by the Houthis and held for two years in the Political Security prison in Sana’a. No charges were brought against the child, he was repeatedly interrogated, beaten on his testicles and with metal cables, and electrocuted. He was pressed to admit a relationship with the al-Islah party. As a result of torture, including sexual violence during 2015-2017, the child was paralyzed and several months after his release had only partially recovered. 1096 696. The Group has reasonable grounds to believe that the UAE-backed Security Belt forces and the Houthi armed group and de facto authorities have violated the right to liberty and security of person, namely through arbitrary arrests and detention of children, including the violation of fair trial rights, as well as torture and other ill-treatment. Through these acts, they have also violated the specific protections granted to children by the CRC, which limits child detention as a measure of last resort and only for the shortest appropriate period of time.1097 697. As demonstrated in other sections of this report, serious violations of children’s rights arise when they are arbitrarily detained and exposed to various forms of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence. When their rights in contexts such as these are violated, the scars are deep and take years to heal. Sexual Violence 698. The Group of Experts documented incidents of sexual violence against boys held in detention by the United Arab Emirates and the de facto authorities (See chapter on Gender analysis and gender based violence, section on gender-based violence). In other contexts, between 2016 and 2019, the Group documented the rape of four boys and one girl by Security Belt forces. The Group further documented the rape of two boys, the attempted rape of one girl, and sexual assault of a boy by the UAE-backed 35th Brigade (See chapter on Control of Aden and the south (2016-2019)). 699. The Group of Experts also separately received reports of sexual violence against children, particularly boys, in Ta’izz Governorate. Perpetrators include persons who are allegedly members of groups affiliated with the Yemeni armed forces. At the time of writing, the Group had not completed investigations into the affiliation of the perpetrators, or into efforts by the authorities to bring the alleged perpetrators to account. 700. These acts committed by members of the de facto authorities, and the UAE-backed Security Belt forces and 35th Brigade are violations of international humanitarian law under Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions prohibiting inhuman treatment, and Additional Protocol II prohibiting violence to life, health and physical or mental wellbeing of persons.1098 They may lead to criminal responsibility for the war crimes of committing 1092 CRC, Article 37 (c). Beijing Rules, 13.4. Confidential Sources on File. 1094 Confidential Sources on File. 1095 Confidential Sources on File. 1096 Confidential Sources on File. 1097 CRC, Articles 3 and 37 (b). 1098 Additional Protocol II, Article 4(2). 1093 167