#HRC57: Investigative mechanism needed for a rights-based transitional justice in Yemen

Human rights defender Anjila Al Maamari, representative of the Center for Strategic Studies to Support Women and Children and member of the Justice for Yemen Pact Coalition, delivered a joint statement on behalf of the coalition, ISHR, and DT Institute (DTi).

The organisations reiterated that technical capacity is not enough and urged States to call for the effective investigation of human rights abuses and violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, by establishing a long overdue independent international criminally focused investigative mechanism on Yemen.

You can watch the video statement here.

You can read the statement in English below and in Arabic here.

Mr President,

This is a joint statement on behalf of ISHR, the Justice for Yemen Pact Coalition and DTi.

My name is Anjila Al Maamari, I am a Yemeni human rights defender working with Center for Strategic Studies to Support Women and Children, member of the Justice for Yemen Pact Coalition.

The Justice for Yemen Pact, a coalition of ten Yemeni civil society organisations, decries the inaction of the international community at the alarming and unprecedented crackdown on civil society. States need to take every possible action to facilitate the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, including through diplomatic efforts, and increased support to civil society.

Following the grave deterioration of the situation, civil society reiterates that technical capacity is not enough and urges States to call for the effective investigation of human rights abuses and violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, by establishing a long overdue ‘independent international criminally focused investigative mechanism on Yemen’.

Independent and impartial investigations are indispensable to put an end to the pervasive culture of impunity. We urge:

• the UN, including the OHCHR and the Special Envoy, to issue reports and conduct briefings on a victims-centred, human rights-based transitional justice
• States to ensure that any negotiated settlement or peace process includes the participation of victims and survivors, including women and youth, to effectively address their rights to justice and reparations.

Thank you.