RES/21/22 Technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human Rights

GE.12-17605

Human Rights Council Twenty-first session

Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council 

21/22.

Technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of

human Rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant human rights treaties,

Recalling Security Council resolutions 2014 (2011) of 21 October 2011 and 2051 (2012) of 12 June 2012 and Human Rights Council resolutions 18/19 of 29 September 2011 and 19/29 of 23 March 2012,

Recognizing that the promotion and protection of human rights are key factors in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability for the country,

Welcoming the process of political transition based on the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism that has started in Yemen, and the commitment of the Government of Yemen to fully promote and protect human rights,

1. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Yemen1 and of the debate held during the twenty-first session of the Human Rights Council, as well as the statement and comments by the Government of Yemen on the report and its willingness to cooperate with the United Nations and Office of the High Commissioner;

2. Notes with appreciation the efforts made by the Government of Yemen to implement Human Rights Council resolutions 18/19 and 19/29;

3. Welcomes and supports the signing of the host country agreement between the Government of Yemen and the High Commissioner to establish a country office of the High Commissioner in Yemen, to take place in New York on 26 September 2012;

 The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its twenty-first session (A/HRC/21/2), chap. I. 1 A/HRC/21/37.

4. Acknowledges with appreciation the issuance of Republican Decree No. 140, which establishes a committee to investigate allegations of violations of human rights, and notes that the Decree states that investigations shall be transparent, independent and adhere to international standards, and looks forward to further steps of the Government of Yemen towards the implementation of the Decree, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 19/29;

5. Calls upon all parties to release persons arbitrarily detained by them and to end any practice of unlawful detention of persons;

6. Calls upon the Government of Yemen and armed opposition groups to take immediate measures to end the use and recruitment of children, to demobilize those who have already been recruited and to cooperate with the United Nations and other qualified groups for their reintegration into their communities, taking into consideration the relevant recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report on children and armed conflict;A/66/782-S/2012/261. 3 A/HRC/18/21 and A/HRC/19/51.

7. Encourages the Government of Yemen to continue its efforts to ensure that women are represented at all levels of the political process and that they are able to participate in public life, free of discrimination and intimidation;

8. Also encourages the Government of Yemen to continue to implement the accepted recommendations contained in the reports of the High Commissioner3 with the support of her Office, and calls upon the Government to address the recommendations contained in the report of the High Commissioner submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-first session;

9. Reiterates the commitments and obligations of the Government of Yemen to promote and protect human rights;

10. Invites all bodies of the United Nations system, including the Office of the High Commissioner and Member States, to assist the transitional process in Yemen, including by supporting the mobilization of resources to tackle the economic and social challenges faced by Yemen, in coordination with the international donor community and according to the priorities set by the Yemeni authorities;

11. Calls upon the international community to provide financial support for the Yemen humanitarian response plan of 2012 and the urgent appeals for Abyan, as well as the joint United Nations stabilization plan;

12. Requests the High Commissioner to provide technical assistance and to work with the Government of Yemen, as needed, to identify additional areas of assistance to enable Yemen to fulfil its human rights obligations;

13. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present to the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-fourth session, a progress report on the situation of human rights in Yemen and on the follow-up to the present resolution and Council resolutions 18/19 and 19/29.

37th meeting

27 September 2012

[Adopted without a vote.]