Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Dr. Youssef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen blamed untold suffering Yemeni children experience on treacherous terrorist militias. The chief lambasted Houthis for abducting and forcing children into recruitment, adding that Houthi militias are pushing hundreds of children to the front lines. Othaimeen’s statement was made at the Fifth Islamic Conference of Ministers in Charge of Childhood, held at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 21 and 22 February 2018 under the slogan "Towards a Safe Childhood", in an address delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Hesham Youssef, Assistant Secretary-General for Cultural, Family and Humanitarian Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He pointed out that recently there has been a notable increase in systematic methods of violence against children, especially in Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and the Rohingya children. "We cannot forget the abduction of 276 girls from a Nigerian school in April 2014, nor the Rohingyas who are subjected to brutal violence and torture by Myanmar authorities,” said the Secretary-General. Othaimeen also cited the harsh conditions suffered by children in refugee camps away from their own countries. The OIC head called for protecting children in the Islamic world and taking responsibility for urgent action to end their suffering. He stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of OIC plans to address many challenges, including the right of children to education and adequate health care, protection from abuse and violence, forced labor and the fight against child recruitment and trafficking. On the other hand, the Secretary-General thanked the Government and the people of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the sovereign of the Kingdom of Morocco, for the gracious hospitality and for the efforts exerted in support of the joint Islamic action. He also extended his thanks to His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri and ISESCOs Working Group for their tireless efforts to promote cultural, scientific and educational, affairs, including the issues related to the challenges faced by children in the Islamic world.