RES/30/18 Technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human rights

Human Rights Council Thirtieth session

Agenda item 10

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 2 October 2015

30/18. 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, 2051

(2012) of 12 June 2012 and 2140 (2014) of 26 February 2014, and Human Rights Council

resolutions 18/19 of 29 September 2011, 19/29 of 23 March 2012, 21/22 of 27 September

2012, 24/32 of 27 September 2013 and 27/19 of 25 September 2014,

Recalling also Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) of 14 April 2015,

Recognizing that the promotion and the 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 acceptance by Yemeni political parties to complete the political

transition process on the basis of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its

implementation mechanism, and emphasizing the need for the implementation of the

recommendations made in the outcome document of the National Dialogue Conference and

to complete the drafting of a new Constitution,

Welcoming also the results of the meeting of Yemeni political parties in Riyadh on

17 May 2015 and their commitments to find a political solution to the conflict in Yemen on

the basis of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue

Conference and Security Council resolution 2216 (2015), and the efforts of the Secretary-

General and of his Special Envoy for Yemen,

Recalling its call for an investigation into all cases of violations and abuses of

human rights and of violations of international humanitarian law, and the relevant call made

by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,

Welcoming Presidential Decree No. 13 of 7 September 2015 appointing the

members of the national independent commission of inquiry to investigate all previous

violations and violations since 2011, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolutions

24/32 and 27/19,

Aware of reports by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that the

existing humanitarian emergency affects the enjoyment of social and economic rights, and

aware that the parties to the conflict must ensure that humanitarian aid is facilitated and not

hindered,

Noting the temporary interruption of the provision of technical assistance and

capacity-building in the field of human rights owing to the deterioration in the political and

security situation in Yemen,

1. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Yemen1 and of the debate held during the

thirtieth session of the Human Rights Council, takes note with interest of the statement and

comments by the Government of Yemen on the report and welcomes its willingness to

cooperate with the United Nations and the Office of the High Commissioner;

2. Expresses deep concern at the serious abuses and violations of international

human rights law and international humanitarian law in Yemen, including the continued

recruitment of children contrary to international treaties, the abduction of political activists,

the violations against journalists, the killing of civilians, the prevention of access by relief

and humanitarian aid, the cutting of electricity and water supplies and the attacks against

hospitals and ambulances;

3. Calls upon all parties in Yemen to respect their obligations under

international human rights law and international humanitarian law, to stop immediately

attacks on civilians and to ensure humanitarian access to the affected population

nationwide;

4. Calls upon the Government to take measures to protect civilians, and to take

appropriate measures to ensure the effective investigation, with a view to ending impunity,

into all cases of violations and abuse of human rights and of violations of international

humanitarian law, including cases of violence against journalists and the detention of

journalists and political activists;

5. Calls upon all parties in Yemen to implement fully Security Council

resolution 2216 (2015), which will contribute to an improvement in the situation of human

rights and which contains specific concerns and places particular demands on Saleh and

Houthi militias to release political prisoners and journalists and to engage in the political

process in an inclusive, peaceful and democratic way, ensuring that women are part of the

political and peacemaking process;

6. Demands that all Yemeni parties to the conflict 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 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/68/878–S/2014/339.

7. Reiterates the commitments and obligations of the Government of Yemen to

promote and protect the human rights of all individuals within its territory and subject to its

1 A/HRC/30/31.

jurisdiction, and in that connection recalls that Yemen is a party to the International

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on

the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Covenant

on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment

or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols

thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child

prostitution and child pornography, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities and the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Protocol thereto,

and looks forward to the Government continuing its efforts to promote and protect human

rights;

8. Expresses deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen,

expresses its appreciation to donor States and organizations working on improving the

humanitarian situation, and calls upon the international community to provide financial

support for the Yemen humanitarian response plan for 2015 and to fulfil their pledges to the

relevant United Nations humanitarian appeal;

9. 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 consequences of the

violence and 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;

10. Requests the High Commissioner, while allocating sufficient staff, in

coordination with the Government of Yemen, to provide technical assistance and to work

with the Government of Yemen, as required, in the field of capacity-building, and to

identify additional areas of assistance to enable Yemen to fulfil its human rights

obligations, and specifically requests the Office of the High Commissioner to assist the

national independent commission of inquiry in meeting its work in accordance with

international obligations, as mandated in Presidential Decree No. 140 of 22 September

2012;

11. Also requests the High Commissioner to present to the Human Rights

Council, at its thirty-first session, an oral update on the situation of human rights in Yemen

and on the follow-up to the present resolution, and to present to the Council, at its thirty-

third session, a written report on the development and implementation of the present

resolution.

42nd meeting

2 October 2015

[Adopted without a vote.]