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Yemen - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 32, January 23, 2019
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

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Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada remains deeply concerned by the conflict, and recognizes that multiple actors are responsible for the serious human rights violations in Yemen.

Canada recommends that Yemen:

1. Fully cooperate with the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen in support of its mandate and fully implement the Stockholm Agreement.
2. Fulfill previously-accepted recommendations to prohibit child, early and forced marriage, including setting the minimum age of marriage at 18, and prevent forced withdrawal of girls from schools.
3. Fulfill previously-accepted recommendations to protect freedom of expression, including through amendment and enforcement of the Press and Publications Act.
4. Take steps to immediately protect journalists, human rights defenders, civil society and minorities such as the Baha’i, including from arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture.
5. Establish, with international support, a program to combat gender-based violence, encompassing awareness and education campaigns, health services, shelters and financial and legal aid, in all regions.

Canada welcomes UN efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire and inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen.

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two UPR cycles, Yemen received 344 recommendations, of which 297 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 86%).  Canada’s previous recommendations to Yemen were related to the rights of children and women, the protection of journalists, improving conditions in prison and addressing corruption and bribery.

Since 2015, the conflict has caused the death and displacement of thousands, severe food insecurity, disease epidemics and has brought millions to the brink of famine.  This dire humanitarian crisis has exacerbated already-existing human rights challenges.

Arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture remain areas of concern.  Violations have been perpetrated against journalists, human rights defenders and civil society activists, with the situation worsening as the conflict has progressed.  According to human rights organizations, various parties have commonly used arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance as a tactic of war “to target political opposition and contain dissent”.  There are documented cases of incidents of torture leading to death.  Human rights advocates have reported the torture and execution of detained migrants and asylum seekers, including children.

Protecting children’s education is also of crucial importance.  UNICEF has reported that the conflict has kept millions of children out of school, with the education sector “on the brink of collapse”.  A lack of salary payment has contributed to a shortage of teachers, and the damage, destruction and repurposing (for the displaced or armed groups) of schools has led to a shortage of learning facilities.

The conflict and consequent mass displacement have placed women and girls in positions of extreme risk.  According to OCHA, services responding to gender-based violence saw a 36% rise in demand in 2017.  The UNFPA has reported that “females are the first family members to eat less as a coping mechanism” due to their traditional role as caregivers.  To alleviate loss of livelihoods, families have increasingly resorted to child marriage.  In the 2014 UPR process, Yemen accepted recommendations to legally establish the minimum age of marriage at 18, but did not include specific enactment under the Safe Motherhood Law of 2014.

Legal protections of freedom of expression and media independence also remain outstanding.  In the 2014 UPR process, the Government of Yemen undertook to amend the Press and Publication Act to ensure greater journalistic freedom.

While the crisis has impeded the ability of Yemeni institutions to effectively function, it is incumbent on the Government to uphold its commitments in these areas.