The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) with Mwatana for Human Rights presented an oral statement before the Council, in which they reiterated the demand for an independent international investigation mechanism to monitor crimes committed in Yemen.
A report issued by the CIHRS, published on its official website onTuesday, confirmed that the Human Rights Council abandoned Yemen, in response to political pressures by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates adding that abandoning not only undermines the council’s primary role, but also encourages the continued use of violence and war crimes against the people of Yemen. , as long as the perpetrators of crimes ensured that they are free from accountability and punishment.
The report stated that the failure to adopt such a mechanism was denounced by twelve human rights organizations – as it not only undermines the Council’s essential role, but it also signals to the perpetrators of crimes that they can continue with impunity to perpetrate violence and war crimes.
“The United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC) concluded its 51st session on 7 October 2022. Multiple proposals to ensure Yemen remained on the Council agenda were rejected by Saudi Arabia and its allies,” the report added.
CIHRS organized a side event alongside the session, in cooperation with eleven regional and international human rights organizations, titled “Yemen: An Abandoned Nation; International Accountability Critical to Achieving Justice, Promoting Lasting Peace and Ending Humanitarian Crisis,” on 28 September. The participants agreed on the vital role that had been upheld by the Group of Eminent Experts (GEE) on Yemen. Following sustained pressure from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the main warring parties in Yemen, the Council ended the GEE’s mandate last year. This has left a gap in the documentation and reporting to be submitted to the UN on Yemen, thus heightening the need for the creation of a new UN mechanism to fulfill this role.
The 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council began at the Council’s headquarters in Geneva on 12 September, and lasted for three consecutive weeks. During the session, CIHRS addressed human rights issues in five countries, including Yemen, which witnessed horrific crimes against civilians by the Saudi-led coalition aircraft.
