Human Rights in Yemen

At a side-event during the 12^th Session of the Human Rights Council several panelists gave us a broad picture of the human rights situation in Yemen.

According to Ali Hussein Mohammed Al-Dailami, Executive Director of the Yemen Organization for the Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms (YODRDF), the Houthis are a community in Yemen from the Zaidi Islamic School who are severely discriminated against. The Houthis are not allowed to celebrate their religious ceremonies. Moreover, they are prevented from having their own religious leaders from their community; the government imposes religious leaders. The effect is, of course, a conflict because the communities do not recognize the imposed authorities. While the government argues that this movement wants things to transpire through violent means, the Houthis contend that they are just asking for their basic rights. Mr. Al-Dailami expressed the need for a campaign to meet the needs of IDPs (internally displaced persons) because one of the critiques is that, even with international assistance called by the government, there is not enough aid delivered to the victims. He also recommended that a special rapporteur go to Yemen. “We want the release of all the political detainees and to stop the war because of all the humanitarian consequences.”

Hael Sallam Ali Othamn, a lawyer and human rights activist from Yemen, spoke about the competition in Yemen, arguing that those currently in power came to power using the revolutionary legitimacy. “The aims of the revolution are essentially being used as an ideological reservoir in order to give legitimacy. Though none of the objectives of the revolution have been realized, so there is really no reason to keep the power in the hands of those who have it now." Those in power felt threatened by the Houthi movement and, in reaction, sent their armies to the Houthi region. “The situation is very critical and all institutions are in threat of collapsing. And all this because of the widespread corruption used as a policy.

Muneer Mohammed Al-Sakkaf, a lawyer and human rights activist from Yemen, addressed the issue of protests in southern Yemen. He said that although the North and South achieved unity in 1994, each had a different political system, and thus, since the beginning of the union, there has been a problem of how to rule the country. They managed to agree on a document, but this document was not respected. In the end, the representative of Northern Yemen took power at the detriment of the southern representative; for instance, more than 100,000 military personnel were forced to retire. The political power set up some committees to address the problems relating to various injustices, but they could not solve them. As a result, movements in the south arose on the grounds of seeking to regain their rights. “The very cause of the problem is that the political power does not share the power and does not include the South in decision-making. They should engage in a comprehensive dialogue with the movements to draft a document like the one signed in 1994; a document that is inclusive. Though it is doubtful that this will come to pass, as today the government won’t even sit around a table with other parties.”