Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Commends Yemen’s Efforts in Education, Asks About Non-Payment of Government Salaries and Measures to Protect the Livelihoods of Agricultural and Fishery Workers
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the third periodic report of Yemen, with Committee Experts commending the State’s efforts in education, and asking about non-payment of Government salaries and measures to protect the livelihoods of agricultural and fishery workers.
One Committee Expert expressed appreciation regarding the Government’s efforts in education. Did the Government intend to increase the education budget? Government forces had reportedly used school institutions for military purposes. Had the State party investigated such reports and asked allies to avoid such acts?
Another Committee Expert expressed concern regarding the non-payment of salaries of Government employees, which began in 2016 and was continuing. Teachers and health workers were not receiving salaries, affecting the right to education and health. Nearly 40 per cent of families had been forced into debt to pay for essentials. What steps had been taken to ensure that workers’ wages were paid in full?
The Expert said there has been a decline in agricultural and fishery production because of the conflict. What measures had been taken to protect the livelihoods of agricultural and fishery workers who had been displaced by the conflict?
Nabil Abdul Hafeez Majed Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights for Partnership and International Cooperation of Yemen, introducing the report, said the Houthi militia’s coup had affected Yemen’s economic situation, harming disadvantaged and marginalized groups. Nearly 17 million people were suffering from food insecurity, while 9.8 million people were in famine, and one million children were suffering from malnutrition.
The Ministry of Education, Mr. Majed Ibrahim said, implemented various programmes supporting primary, secondary, higher and vocational education, in addition to programmes enabling displaced and refugee children to obtain education.
On salaries, the delegation said all the resources of the former Central Bank had been used up by the Houthis. The claim that the legitimate Government had not paid salaries of Government employees was false. The Government had paid the salaries of Government employees in liberated areas. 29,000 employees in Al-Hudaydah Province had been paid salaries in 2022 using proceeds from ports. In total, about 50,000 Government employees had received salaries outside of Government-controlled areas.
Mr. Majed Ibrahim said 70 per cent of the population benefited from the agricultural sector, and the Government supported the sector. Land mines had forced agricultural activities to stop. There were ongoing efforts to return displaced persons to their lands to resume agricultural activities. The Government had established a Fund for the Promotion of Agricultural and Fisheries Production.
In concluding remarks, Ludovic Hennebel, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, said the Committee was mindful of the scale of challenges that persisted, but was conscious of the efforts made to preserve human rights and fundamental freedoms. The victims of the conflict were the marginalised and most vulnerable. People did not have access to basic needs due to the conflict. The Committee would work with the Government to address the challenges that it faced. Mr. Hennebel expressed hope that the Committee’s recommendations would be implemented.
Mohamed Al-Foqumi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Yemen to the United Nations Office at Geneva, in closing remarks, said the Government would endeavour to fulfil its obligations under the Covenant. It genuinely wished to make progress in promoting economic, social and cultural rights, and had presented its measures, policies and plans toward this aim. It was hoped that there would be peace in Yemen when the next review was held.
The delegation of Yemen was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Public Health and Population; Ministry of Finance; General Authority of Antiquities and Museums; Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights; General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers; Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor; Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation; Women's National Committee; and the Permanent Mission of Yemen to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 22 February, to begin its consideration of the third periodic report of Lithuania (E/C.12/LTU/3).
Report
The Committee has before it the third periodic report of Yemen (E/C.12/YEM/3).
Presentation of Report
NABIL ABDUL HAFEEZ MAJED IBRAHIM, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights for Partnership and International Cooperation of Yemen, said the coup carried out by the Houthi terrorist militia on September 21, 2014 had led to the destruction of State institutions and society in general, and economic, social and cultural rights were affected in particular. The State paid great attention to achieving peace, ending the coup, restoring State institutions, implementing development goals, reactivating agreements with international organizations, and investing in sustainable projects. The Government was addressing the lack of availability of services and infrastructure, the repercussions of conflict and war on societal cohesion, and weak political and security stability.
The coup had affected Yemen’s economic situation, harming disadvantaged and marginalized groups. Nearly 17 million people were suffering from food insecurity, while 9.8 million people were in famine, and one million children were suffering from malnutrition. The Government was seeking with international partners to reactivate the social protection system in Yemen, which included a package of social policies and programmes for disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
The Houthi militias had targeted the ports of Al-Dhaba, Al-Nashima and Qena for oil export and continued to threaten territorial waters and national security. Their actions had led to the collapse of the economy and stopped oil exports, the main source of Government revenue. This had led to a widespread suspension of services, the payment of civil service salaries, a rapid devaluation of the currency, and a shortage of imported goods. The banking sector had been severely damaged, with the militias having taken over the banking system and the Central Bank. During the years 2020-2021, the Government, affected also by the COVID-19 pandemic, could not implement its national plans and budget.
The Yemeni Government continued to assess the damage caused by the conflict and develop plans for reconstruction and rehabilitation. It had implemented policies, strategies and plans on the rights of women and children, including the National Strategy for Reproductive Health, the National Strategy for Food Security and the Social Protection Strategy. The five-year action plan of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor 2011-2015, which included the development of new shelters for women in five governorates, had been halted due to the coup. The Government was determined to reactivate the strategy for the 2020-2025 period.
The Government had established several funds, including the Social Fund for Development, the Social Welfare Fund, the Fund for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled, the Fund for the Promotion of Agricultural and Fisheries Production, and the Fund for the Reconstruction of Hadramout Al-Mahra. The Ministry of Education implemented various programmes supporting primary, secondary, higher and vocational education, in addition to programmes enabling displaced and refugee children to obtain education. The Houthi militia was changing the school curricula, bulldozing the Yemeni identity and spreading a culture of sectarianism, racism and hatred.
During the conflict, four United Nations envoys had been appointed to revive peace in Yemen. The Yemeni Government had participated in dialogue held in Geneva in 2015, Kuwait in 2016, Geneva and Stockholm in 2018. The Presidential Leadership Council and the Government had agreed on the United Nations-sponsored humanitarian truce that was signed in April 2022 and extended. The truce included allowing the import of oil derivatives through the port of Hodeidah in return for the supply the port's revenues to the Central Bank and the payment of the salaries of Government employees in all Yemeni governorates. However, the Houthi militias had rejected all international efforts to extend the truce and hand over salaries to Government employees, who they forced to work without salaries, exacerbating the poverty situation.
Questions by Committee Experts
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, said the situation in Yemen was of deep concern. States could derogate from their obligations in crisis situations, but it was up to the Committee to examine the extend to which derogations were appropriate. The situation in Yemen was a violation of international human rights law. Conflicts were generating further conflicts.
What measures were in place to ensure that the National Commission of Inquiry met the requirements of the Paris Principles? How many cases had been dealt with by the Commission? What reparation measures had been ordered by the Commission for victims of violence?
What measures were in place to improve and strengthen the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, increase its resources, and to implement a human rights policy to address the State’s issues and challenges? Was the State raising awareness among members of the judiciary, civil society and lawyers regarding the Covenant? What was the domestic legal status of the international recommendations adopted by the United Nations? Did Yemen intend to ratify the Optional Protocol? What were the coup’s impacts on Covenant rights? What anti-corruption tools were in place?
What measures were in place to remove all obstacles and interference to humanitarian aid, and to ensure access to humanitarian assistance throughout the State? What efforts were underway to increase donor support in response to the crisis? Did the State intend to adjust regulations on the movement of medicines, fuel and other goods for humanitarian purposes? How did the State guarantee the safety of human rights defenders, and ensure that human rights defenders were not subjected to persecution, intimidation and harassment? How did it combat impunity for perpetrators of abuses?
What measures had been adopted to implement a land policy that respected land and property rights, and allowed for transparent registration of people’s land?
What measures had the State party taken to combat poverty, discrimination, forced labour, slavery, and trafficking of illegal migrants? Did the State collect disaggregated data on marginalised groups? What measures were in place to support these groups? How many internally displaced persons had been identified since the start of the conflict? What measures were in place to combat discrimination and stigmatization of the Muhamasheen community? How did the State ensure that Muhamasheen people had legal civil status documents, as well as access to land, decent housing, social welfare, justice and lawyers? How many persons had been charged with capital offences, and what was the state of these cases? How many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons had been accused, tried or convicted for sexual conduct between persons of the same sex? Did the Government plan to decriminalise homosexuality? Was the abolition of the death penalty being discussed? What measures were in place to ensure fair trials for all persons sentenced to death?
What actions were being taken to address violence against women and to provide redress to victims? How was the State tackling inequality between men and women, the high maternal mortality rate, domestic violence, gender-based violence, early and forced marriages, rape and sexual assault? What measures were in place to end the mahram (male guardian) system, which prohibited women from travelling without a male guardian? How many women had been charged with capital offences? Did the Government require all prison authorities to adopt gender-sensitive policies regarding the detention of women based on the Bangkok Rules and the Nelson Mandela Rules?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the National Commission of Inquiry had employed great effort to collect data on human rights violations. The Commission had collected information on over 24,000 cases involving over 125,000 people. Remedies had been provided through non-governmental organizations for over 7,000 cases. The Committee had prepared reports on human rights violations. Meetings on the situation in detention centres had been held. Regular dialogue was held with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on gender-based discrimination. The Yemeni Government had met with human rights experts commissioned by the Office, but the report prepared by these experts was politicized and did not reflect the actual situation. The Government hoped that the work of this committee would be improved.
The Government had reactivated the Supreme Judicial Council and appointed a woman on the Council. Dozens of judges were working in First Instance and Appellate Courts. The Ministry of Justice had reconstructed buildings and chambers of courts. Every Yemeni citizen had the right to access justice. A cabinet had been formed to support improved access to legal aid. The Public Prosecutor’s Office ensured that women, persons with special needs and the poor had access to a lawyer. Members of the Muhamasheen could become lawyers, and could access legal aid. The National Dialogue Conference had covered various human rights issues, and high numbers of people, including women, had participated in the Conference.
The Government was implementing a poverty eradication programme. The programme aimed to improve the level of employment, and to provide protection for internally displaced persons. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce had established a fund for supporting small and medium enterprises. A strategy for funding these enterprises and their employees was being developed.
More than four million people in Yemen were displaced. The Government had drawn up a national strategy on displacement; set up a National Relief Committee to draw up relief strategies and strategies to address internal displacement; and set up an implementation unit that provided legal protections for displaced persons and registered them in a dedicated database. Shelter, protection and humanitarian assistance was provided to displaced persons.
The Ministry of Human Rights coordinated protection of human rights at the national level. A telephone hotline had been set up to receive complaints regarding human rights violations. The Ministry received reports of violations by Houthi militia. A coordinating committee provided training to focal points on children’s rights and worked to protect children from being used in armed groups. The Ministry visited all regions where complaints of violations were made. It endeavoured to build the capacity of military personnel and local coordinators who received complaints. The Public Prosecutor’s Office also received and investigated complaints.
The Government provided international organisations with assistance to ensure that humanitarian assistance reached areas that were not liberated. 58 international organisations had received licenses to work across the territories. 48 licence applications were being considered.
A national strategy for women was in place from 2000 to 2010. A law on discrimination in the workplace had been implemented. Women were provided with 20 days of maternity support under this law. Women could apply for leave from work if they had complications during the birthing process. The Government aimed to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and participation in decision-making processes. A policy introducing a quota of 30 per cent female representation in Government bodies had been implemented, however the rate was currently 20 per cent. Projects to promote women’s rights had been affected by the Houthi movement. The Houthi militia had instituted measures prohibiting women from using certain modes of transport unaccompanied. Women were also obligated to wear black regalia in schools and universities. Persons who did not obey the Houthi militia’s strict prohibitions were subjected to kidnapping and corporal punishment. These prohibitions had undermined women’s status in society. A law calling for the age of marriage to be increased to 17 years had been drafted, but not yet adopted. Child marriages had increased, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas. The Government had implemented an awareness campaign discouraging child marriage.
NABIL ABDUL HAFEEZ MAJED IBRAHIM, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights for Partnership and International Cooperation of Yemen , said the Government was combatting corruption through the National Supreme Committee on Combatting Corruption. Numerous efforts had been deployed regarding land ownership, but the Houthi militia had destroyed cultivated areas and rigged them with anti-personnel land mines, affecting land tenure rights. Public assets had also been affected by such acts.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the continuing conflict situation was a cause for concern, and had impinged on the State party’s obligations to promote economic, social and cultural rights. There has been a decline in agricultural and fishery production because of the conflict. What measures had been taken to protect the livelihoods of agricultural and fishery workers who had been displaced by the conflict? What steps had been taken to implement an updated National Employment Policy? Has an impact assessment been undertaken on the loss of employment and livelihoods due to the conflict?
How many children were in the workforce? Had any Labour Code or Ministerial Order been issued to ensure a minimum age for work? What measures had been taken to combat child labour and slavery? Muhamasheen did not have birth certificates, impeding their access to education, their right to work other services. What measures were in place to provide birth certificates to Muhamasheen and other enslaved, marginalised groups?
The Expert expressed concern regarding the non-payment of salaries of Government employees, which began in 2016 and was continuing. Teachers and health workers were not receiving salaries, affecting the right to education and health. Nearly 40 per cent of families had been forced into debt to pay for essentials. What steps had been taken to ensure that workers’ wages were paid in full?
How had the State party ensured implementation of the 30 per cent quota for women in all Government positions? What steps had been taken to address sexual harassment in the workplace? The gender pay gap persisted due to inequalities in employment, the feminisation of occupations and guardianship of women. What measures were in place to monitor and address the pay gap and other forms of discrimination? Had the Government attempted to reactivate the activities of the Labour Council, which had been stopped because of the conflict?
There was no national minimum wage. What steps would be taken towards guaranteeing a minimum wage? How did the State party address unfair dismissals, and ensure the right to freely form and join trade unions and the right to collective bargaining? How did legislation prevent acts of interference by employers? How was Yemen protecting the labour rights of workers in the informal economy?
The absence of social security and social insurance was a serious cause for concern. What measures were in place to provide workers, older persons, the poor and the needy with social security? How did the Social Fund for Development provide support to the rural population? How did the State ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in public life and the labour market? What efforts had been made to increase access to public services?
Land issues constituted 80 per cent of the conflicts in Yemen. How was the State addressing these? How did the State party ensure a balance in the distribution of water resources? What climate policies were in place?
Responses by the Delegation
NABIL ABDUL HAFEEZ MAJED IBRAHIM, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights for Partnership and International Cooperation of Yemen, said 70 per cent of the population benefited from the agricultural sector, and the Government supported the sector. Land mines had forced agricultural activities to stop. There were ongoing efforts to return displaced persons to their lands to resume agricultural activities. Sea mines also threatened the work of fishery workers. The region was exposed to monsoons and typhoons, which also created problems for fishery workers.
The delegation said around 80,000 Government employees had lost their jobs due to the coup. There were opportunities available in the private sector, and Government committees were supporting the work of trade unions and protecting private sector workers against unfair dismissal. The Government granted freedom of association for all workers, including the Muhamasheen.
Rural areas were benefiting from Government projects to establish alternative sources of energy. A plan for developing the agricultural and fisheries sector was in place. The Government ensured that affected communities were involved in the planning of development projects.
The Government had ratified International Labour Organization Conventions 138 and 180 on child labour. Law 45 on the rights of the child specified that children could work from 14 years of age for up to six hours per day. Regulations in line with International Labour Organization Conventions were in place regarding the work of children under 18. There had recently been instances of children being used to spray pesticides and work on the land in the agricultural sector. There were 1.6 million children aged between 14 and 18 working in the State. There had been orders to close workplaces that used illegal child labour. Boat owners were required to protect children working in the fisheries sector. The Government was trying to tackle child labour in non-liberated areas, where children were recruited out of school to militias.
The Central Bank had been moved to the temporary capital of Aden. All the resources of the former Central Bank had been used up by the Houthis. The claim that the legitimate Government had not paid salaries of Government employees was false. The Government had paid the salaries of Government employees in liberated areas. 29,000 employees in Al-Hudaydah Province had been paid salaries in 2022 using proceeds from ports. In total, about 50,000 Government employees had received salaries outside of Government-controlled areas. The Houthis had manipulated the current exchange, taking away two-thirds of salaries paid. The Aden Governate had a power facility that currently used crude oil and gas, but could in the future use green energy.
Yemen relied on groundwater, and there had been a decline in groundwater due to drought. The drought threatened the agricultural sector and the national economy. Yemen’s weak institutions needed additional outside funding. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was helping to de-mine agricultural areas, but Houthi militia continued to plant mines. The Safer oil spill had harmed the local environment. Farmers’ land continued to be confiscated. Looting was supervised by Houthi leaders. Development projects were needed to diversify the agricultural sector and limit the planting of khat.
A national strategy for older persons and a national disability strategy had been developed. The State was working with the United Nations Children's Fund to provide support for children. These strategies needed funding to be effective.
The Government was cognizant of the importance of birth certificates, and had issued a resolution on such certificates. An electronic system for applying for birth certificates had been established. The Government had provided certificates to 40 per cent of unregistered people. A new system had been developed that provided persons within warzone camps with access to birth registration.
The Penal Code imposed harsh penalties on persons who stole land and private property. The Government had implemented justice systems to hold perpetrators to account. The Houthis had appropriated hundreds of thousands of hectares of agricultural land. The Yemeni Government had established a committee that was monitoring the situation and considering measures for protecting land and property ownership.
A national committee against human trafficking had been established to combat the crime.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, asked about the challenges in compatibility that the Government had identified between domestic law and the Covenant. Which domestic laws needed to be changed? Was the Government committed to the abolition of the death penalty? What actions had been taken to address cases of arbitrary detention?
A Committee Expert asked whether the State party had provided training on human rights to military forces. Khat was cultivated at the expense of people’s right to water and food. What steps were being taken to curtail khat cultivation? Was the National Commission of Inquiry independent, and did it conduct public consultations? The Committee had received reports of discrimination against the Baha’i community and North African migrants. What measures had been taken in response to this discrimination?
Responses by the Delegation
NABIL ABDUL HAFEEZ MAJED IBRAHIM, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights for Partnership and International Cooperation of Yemen, said Islam was the source of legislation in Yemen, and religious doctrines guided the legal system. An assessment of existing legal texts’ adherence to the Covenant was being carried out. The Government had worked to free the Baha’i people from Houthi detention, and a high-level dialogue with the Baha’i community had been carried out.
The delegation said Yemen was committed to ensuring that national laws adhered to the Covenant. Certain legislative amendments were currently being undertaken towards this aim. All Yemeni citizens were permitted to bring complaints to treaty bodies. Some parties had submitted complaints protesting the Government’s internal procedures that had led to changes in Government operations.
The Government was determined to limit the application of capital punishment and avoid implementation of the death penalty. Death penalties could only be implemented with the approval of the President.
The Government had issued calls to international partners to put pressure on Houthi militia to release hundreds of arbitrarily detained women. The Government was investigating all cases of arbitrary detention and torture. The Houthis had committed around 350 extrajudicial killings of civilians. An 80-person commission made up of non-governmental organization representatives and jurists had been set up to investigate violations of human rights. The commission had been recognised by the United Nations for the quality of its work.
Khat was a prominent issue in Yemeni society. Many families sourced incomes from khat. The Government was encouraging the cultivation of other crops such as coffee beans and supporting the diversification of the agricultural sector.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked about measures being adopted on child marriage. Under the Vienna Convention, a party could not invoke the provisions of its internals law as justification for non-compliance with a treaty. This applied to child marriage. What concrete measures were in place to prevent child labour? Was there recruitment of children in armed forces in Government-controlled territories? How did the Government support rehabilitation and access to education and housing for children who had been withdrawn from armed forces? What percentage of children in Government-controlled areas did not have a registered identity?
Food had been used as a weapon of war. The United Nations Relief Chief Martin Griffiths had reported to the Security Council that access to humanitarian aid continued to be hampered due to attacks against humanitarian staff. Many incidents had occurred in Government-controlled areas. What measures were in place to ensure that such incidents would not reoccur? What concrete measures were in place to help farming families to access seeds and fertilisers? How many hectares of khat had been replaced by other crops? What measures were in place to promote access to land ownership in Government-controlled territories?
Only 50 per cent of health facilities were operational today due to the conflict. What measures were in place to restore the closed health care centres? The war had affected the mental health of many people. What support measures were in place? There were 1.3 million pregnant women in Yemen who were lacking maternal and neonatal treatment. Maternal and neonatal mortality rates were high. What measures were in place to promote maternal and neonatal health care, and to ensure that medicines were delivered to people who needed them most? Yemen had one of the lowest percentages of people who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. What was the vaccination rate, and what plans did the Government have to increase the rate?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the national commission on women’s affairs supported civil society organisations to advise religious leaders on the necessity of preventing child marriages. Some regions allowed child marriages due to poverty and economic challenges caused by the war. An awareness raising campaign on the negative consequences of early marriages was in place. Persons who facilitated early marriages could be prosecuted.
Children were exposed to various risks in the agricultural sector. The Government had protected children whose health had been affected by pesticides. It had banned the use of children for spraying harmful pesticides, and was raising awareness amongst children on the dangers of pesticides.
Questions by Committee Experts
Another Committee Expert said destruction of schools and classrooms, early marriages and other issues threatened children in Yemen. The Government had organised training courses for members of armed forces to prevent recruitment of children. Such measures were useful, but not sufficient. How many schools were still being used for military purposes? Government forces had allegedly used schools for military purposes. Had the Government investigated such allegations, punished perpetrators, and asked allied to avoid such acts?
What measures were in place to support payment of teachers’ salaries, encourage children to enrol in schools, and to rebuild damaged schools? It was welcome that some teachers had received salaries. How many teachers had received full salaries in Government-controlled areas? Had the school enrolment rate been increasing? What percentage of damaged schools and classrooms had been rebuilt or repaired? Many schools lacked water and sanitation. Was the Government addressing this problem? Did it intend to implement support measures even if it did not receive sufficient international aid or end the armed conflict? The percentage of spending out of Government revenue on social services, including education, health and social protection, was only around two per cent. This figure was too low. Did the Government intend to increase the percentage of spending on social services, particularly on education? Gender stereotypes and early marriage contributed to the low enrolment rate of girls in school, and religious and ethnic intolerance had contributed to the current armed conflict. Did the State party plan to provide human rights education to the general population and students to promote gender equality and ethnic and religious tolerance?
The situation of culture and science in Yemen was also very disappointing. Cultural facilities and heritage sites were being used for military propose and being destroyed in the conflict. What measures were in place to prevent further deterioration of the situation, and to promote science education among Yemeni people?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Yemeni Government had established a joint committee to prevent recruitment of children in armed forces. The committee had established 80 focal points to monitor recruitment. Training for the focal points would be held next month. The Yemeni Government was keen to ensure that there was no child recruitment, and would hold any perpetrator accountable. A centre to rehabilitate recruited children had been established.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had yesterday provided a one billion United States dollars loan to Yemen’s Central Bank.
70 per cent of births were registered in urban areas, but only half of births were registered in rural areas. Only 40 per cent of children were registered in Houthi-controlled areas.
The Government would ensure delivery of food to alleviate citizens’ nutritional needs. The Government was trying to curb food price rises. Houthis used food as a weapon. Northern areas were formerly the food basket of the State, but now production was waning in those regions. The Government provided food subsidies and had made efforts to develop a strategic food reserve.
It was facilitating measures to support humanitarian food delivery. Safe corridors were provided for humanitarian organisations, and there was no obstruction of their work. There had only been three reports of obstruction to humanitarian efforts, and these had been due to lack of coordination with the Government. Perpetrators in these cases had been held accountable. There was obstruction in Houthi-controlled areas. Houthis gave portions of food assistance to supporters, and sold food aid in markets to support military operations. The international community should compel Houthis to allow humanitarian supplies to reach those in need.
Khat was not the second most produced crop after wheat. The Government had launched efforts to reduce khat production well before the war, and such efforts were ongoing. A fund had been established to support the fishery sector. The sector was exempt from taxes.
The Yemeni Government was ensuring that the National Commission of Inquiry fully upheld the Paris Principles. The Commission had nine independent members chosen from the judiciary and non-governmental organizations. It had to date produced ten reports, visited detention centres and held dialogue with victims and authorities. Over 1,500 cases had been referred to the Prosecutor’s Office, some of which were still being examined.
The health service had been severely affected by the war and the COVID-19 pandemic. Yemen had closed its borders and the Ministry of Health and Population had gradually opened healthcare centres during the pandemic, progressively providing materials to these centres. Training was provided to 2,200 medical staff in partnership with the World Health Organization. Asylum seekers, migrants and residents of remote areas were provided with vaccinations. A national committee for the injured had been established. New orthopaedic centres had been built to provide support for victims of mines. Capacities were not sufficient. There were 70,000 medical staff, but only one doctor per 100,000 Yemenis.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said there had been an increase in injuries from mines. Had international support been requested for de-mining? Why was the COVID-19 vaccination rate low? Had the Government received vaccines from the international community?
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, asked whether an external assessment of the National Commission of Inquiry would be carried out. Did citizens have a say in how Saudi Arabia’s deposit would be spent? How did the State prevent corruption? Would the funds be invested in health or reconstruction? What measures were in place to combat severe food insecurity? Yemen had high levels of malnutrition. What measures were in place to tackle the issue? How was Yemen preventing corporal punishment against children? Yemen had accepted no mechanism for international protection, except for that of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Did it envisage ratifying the Optional Protocol?
Responses by the Delegation
NABIL ABDUL HAFEEZ MAJED IBRAHIM, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights for Partnership and International Cooperation of Yemen, said the Human Rights Council had assessed the National Commission of Inquiry, and had not made any observations regarding its lack of independence. The Commission was independent of the Government. Local agencies performed their functions, so there was no need to resort to international agencies’ complaints mechanism.
The delegation said there were 158 neonatal mortality cases per 10,000 births. 1,200,000 persons aged over 18, around 25 per cent of the population, had received COVID-19 vaccinations in regions controlled by the Government. The militia had rejected vaccinations.
Laws on literacy and higher education had been developed. The Ministry of Education had opened centres for literacy. The war had destroyed many educational facilities. More than 1,700 schools had been renovated, but more schools, classrooms and schoolbooks were needed. The education of more than 700,000 students, including 300,000 female students, was supported, and internally displaced children were also supported to receive education free of charge. The Ministry of Education included a special section focusing on girls’ education. Girls’ schools had been established, but these were scarce. The Government intended to open more schools for girls.
The war had impacted culture. Many cultural heritage sites had been destroyed through bombing and pilfering. The Arab Coalition and the Government had tried to bring such attacks to an end. The Government had established a cultural site list and a list of artifacts protected in museums. It was investing in protecting and renovating museums, and preserving cultural sites. A body to combat illegal trafficking of cultural items had been established. 77 artifacts illegally removed from Yemen had been repatriated. A cooperation programme with Egypt was in place to train museum personnel, and the State cooperated with Interpol to prevent and monitor trafficking of cultural heritage. Measures needed to be implemented to protect cultural sites from military attacks.
Questions by Committee Experts
One Committee Expert expressed appreciation regarding the Government’s efforts in education. Did the Government intend to increase the education budget? Government forces had reportedly used school institutions for military purposes. Had the State party investigated such reports and asked allies to avoid such acts? Some problems in the State appeared to be caused by harmful cultural traditions and religious intolerance. Did the Government intend to include human rights education in the curriculum?
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, asked about measures to guarantee payment of salaries to teachers. What measures were in place to ensure that water and sanitation was available in schools?
Another Committee Expert said Yemen had signed the Rome Statute, which had provisions regarding the destruction of cultural heritage. Yemen needed to ratify the Rome Statute and implement its provisions in domestic legislation. Was there a timeframe for ratification?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Government invested 17 per cent of the budget in education. This was insufficient, but the most workable rate that the Government could adopt. Previously, 14 per cent had been invested.
The loan to the Central Bank from Saudi Arabia would be used to import basic food and goods and to stabilise the currency market. There was oversight by financial authorities regarding the use of the funds.
The Government worked towards ratifying instruments that it had signed. The Rome Statute was now before Parliament.
The Government had held meetings with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on incorporating human rights education in public schooling and higher education. Human rights principles had yet to be incorporated due to budgeting restraints.
Closing Statements
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, said the war in Yemen had prevented a real discussion on the rule of law. The Committee was mindful of the scale of challenges that persisted, but was conscious of the efforts made to preserve human rights and fundamental freedoms. It was commendable that the Government had agreed to take part in the dialogue. The victims of the conflict were the marginalised and most vulnerable. People did not have access to basic needs due to the conflict. The dialogue had helped the Committee to identify various challenges in the State. Dialogue with Yemen needed to continue. The Committee would work with the Government to address the challenges that it faced. Mr. Hennebel expressed hope that the Committee’s recommendations would be implemented.
MOHAMED AL-FOQUMI, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Yemen to the United Nations Office at Geneva, thanked the Committee for their comments and questions. The Government would endeavour to fulfil its obligations under the Covenant. It genuinely wished to make progress in promoting economic, social and cultural rights, and had presented its measures, policies and plans toward this aim. The delegation had also presented elements that posed challenges in the implementation of the Covenant, particularly the conflict in the State. The State party would consider the Committee’s concluding observations. It was hoped that there would be peace in Yemen when the next review was held.
MOHAMED EZZELDIN ABDEL-MONEIM, Committee Chair, said the provisions of international laws needed to be applied by all parties in armed conflicts to ensure the promotion of human rights. Mr. Abdel-Moneim said that the delegation’s answers would be scrutinised by the Committee to reach balanced recommendations. Dialogue with Yemen would continue. Mr. Abdel-Moneim said he believed that the Arab Spring would return.
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CESCR23.007E