RES/24/32 Technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human rights

GE.13-18006

Human Rights Council Twenty-fourth session

Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

24/32.

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, 19/29 of 23 March 2012 and 21/22 of 27 September 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 progress in the political transition process based on the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism that has started in Yemen, and looking forward to a successful conclusion of the National Dialogue Conference and to subsequent stages of the transition,

Welcoming also the ongoing implementation of the confidence-building measures contained in the 20 and 11 recommendation points contained in the reports on the preparation and the first phase of the National Dialogue Conference, in particular the measures to address the grievances of the citizens of Southern Yemen and Sada’a,

Welcoming further the commitment of the Government of Yemen to fully promote and protect human rights,

Welcoming the Cabinet approval of the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and noting the intention of the Cabinet to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,

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

the Council on its twenty-fourth session (A/HRC/24/2), Part One.

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-fourth 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, 19/29 and 21/22;

3. Welcomes the establishment of a field presence of the Office of the High Commissioner, and notes the active cooperation of the Government with the Office and the steps taken towards the establishment of an independent national human rights institution;

4. Looks forward to steps by the Government of Yemen, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 19/29, towards the implementation of Republican Decree No. 140 of 2012, which establishes a committee to investigate allegations of violations of human rights in 2011 and which states that investigations shall be transparent and independent and adhere to international standards; and invites the Government of Yemen to provide soon a time frame for the early appointment of members of that committee;

5. Also looks forward to the early adoption of a law on transitional justice and national reconciliation that, while taking into account the recommendations of the National Dialogue Conference, is in accordance with the international obligations and commitments of Yemen and consistent with best practices;

6. Calls upon all parties to release persons arbitrarily detained by them and to end any practice of unlawful detention of persons, and recalls Cabinet decision No. 180 (2012) to release all those imprisoned for their participation in the events of 2011;

7. Welcomes the measures of the Government of Yemen to end the recruitment and use of children, and looks forward to the implementation of those measures without further delay;

8. Demands that armed groups end the recruitment and use of children and release those who have already been recruited, and calls upon all parties 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;2

9. Calls upon the Government of Yemen to investigate cases of violence against journalists, in accordance with its international obligations to respect the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association;

10. Notes with appreciation the considerable representation of women in the National Dialogue Conference, and 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;

11. 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-fourth session;1

1 A/HRC/24/34.

2 A/67/845-S/2013/245.

3 A/HRC/18/21, A/HRC/19/51 and A/HRC/21/37.

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

13. Looks forward to the Government continuing its efforts to promote and protect human rights;

14. Calls on the Government of Yemen to ensure, in the framework of scrupulous respect for due process-related rights, fair trial guarantees, including in cases involving the death penalty, and to ensure that the death penalty is not applied to minors, in conformity with commitments undertaken by the Government, including during its universal periodic review in 2009, and notes in this connection the establishment of the Specialized Forensic Technical Committee and the accelerated efforts of the Government to improve birth registration with international assistance;

15. Encourages and supports the efforts by the Government of Yemen to promote and protect the rights of children, and calls for early progress in ensuring that appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures are in place to eliminate the occurrence of child, early and forced marriages;

16. 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;

17. Calls upon the international community to provide financial support for the Yemen humanitarian response plan of 2013;

18. 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;

19. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present to the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-seventh 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, 19/29 and 21/22.

37th meeting

27 September 2013

[Adopted without a vote.]