Chapter Two: Yemen in UN Security Council

In 2017, the UN Security Council discussed the situation in Yemen in nine sessions.

On February 23, 2017, the Security Council adopted Resolution No. 2342 on the extension of the sanctions imposed on former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, his son Ahmed Ali and a number of leading figures of Ansar Allah group (the Houthis). The Council also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Yemen until March 28, 2018.[1]

During UN Security Council session held on May 30, 2017, Radhya Al-Mutawakil, the head of Mwatana for Human Rights presented a briefing (first of its kind by a Yemeni organization), together with the former UN Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh and the Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, Stephen O’Brien. In her briefing, Al-Mutawakil called upon the UN Security Council and the international community to undertake their responsibility towards the tragic situation in Yemen.[2]

Al-Mutawakil’s briefing emphasized a number of important issues and demands related to the human rights and humanitarian situation in Yemen as well as the importance of putting an end to the war and returning to the peace negotiation table. The issues and demands include:

• The establishment of an Independent International Inquiry Mechanism to investigate the violations committed by all parties to the conflict.
• Stopping arms deals with all parties involved in violations against human rights in Yemen
• Demanding the cessation of targeting the civilian population and objects by air strikes or ground attacks.
• Securing the release of all civilian detainees and forcibly disappeared persons under the authority of Ansar Allah-Saleh alliance on the one hand and the authority of the Hadi government and its allies on the other.
• Putting an end to all measures that may hamper access to humanitarian aid to different areas and groups that need help.
• Securing the reopening of Sana’a International airport.
• Emphasizing the importance of an urgent arrangement for a mechanism for all parties to pay the salaries of public sector employees.
• Securing the protection of Al Hudaydah seaport from the ravages of armed conflict and restoring it to its full capacity so that it can better respond to the needs of millions of Yemenis.
• Demanding that the restrictions on the work of civil society organizations are lifted, the freedom of the press is granted, and all detained journalists are released.^[3]

On June 15, 2017, the UN Security Council released a statement by its President in which the Council called upon “all parties to comply with International Humanitarian Law, including to at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives, and by taking all feasible precautions to avoid, and in any event minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects, and to end the recruitment and use of children in violation of applicable international law, in order to prevent further suffering of civilians.” The statement continues: “The Security Council further underlines the need to ensure the security of humanitarian and United Nations personnel. The Security Council calls on all parties to respect and protect medical facilities and personnel. The Security Council further calls on the parties to allow the safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to the populations of all affected governorates, and to facilitate access for essential imports of food, fuel and, medical supplies into the country and their distribution throughout. In this regard, the Security Council stresses the importance of keeping all Yemen’s ports functioning, including Al Hudaydahport, as a critical lifeline for humanitarian support and other essential supplies.”[4]