Houthi summer centers recruited over 461,000 children in 2026

The Irada Organization for Combating Torture and Enforced Disappearance has documented that approximately 461,815 children attended Houthi-run summer centers between January and September 2026. During a presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the organization reported that these centers are being used for ideological mobilization, sectarian indoctrination, and recruitment.

The report estimates that roughly 62,700 children were recruited through these programs, with tens of thousands more being transferred to military training camps following the sessions. The activities were spread across several Yemeni provinces, including Sana'a, Saada, Hajjah, and Dhamar, utilizing schools, mosques, and other public facilities.

Jamal al-Maamari, head of the Irada Organization, stated that the Houthi militia is targeting approximately 1.6 million students in controlled areas through curriculum changes and brainwashing. He also highlighted broader human rights concerns, including the detention of academics, politicians, journalists, and UN humanitarian workers, while calling for international condemnation of these systematic practices.