Yemen: UN Security Council Condemns Human Rights Violations
Strongly condemning what it called human rights violations by authorities, and abuses by other actors, in Yemen following months of political strife, the Security Council Friday afternoon demanded that all sides immediately reject violence, and called on them to commit to a peaceful transition of power based on proposals by the major regional organization of the Arabian Gulf.
By the text of resolution 2014 (2011), adopted unanimously, the Council expressed profound regret at the hundreds of deaths in Yemen, mainly of civilians, including women and children. It demanded that Yemeni authorities immediately allow the exercise of the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and expression, and end attacks against civilians. It stressed that all those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses should be held accountable.
It called on all parties to sign and implement the proposals of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which it said outlined a process for a peaceful, inclusive, orderly and Yemeni-led transition of power from President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen since 1978.
Meanwhile, condemning all acts aimed at jeopardizing the political process, such as the attack on the Presidential Compound in Sana’a in June 2011, the Council demanded that opposition groups cease the use of force to achieve political aims, remove all weapons from areas of peaceful demonstrations and refrain from recruitment of children. It also urged all parties not to target vital infrastructure.
By the text, the Council also expressed concern over the presence of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula as well as its intention to address that threat, and it encouraged the provision of humanitarian assistance to Yemen while requesting all parties to ensure unhindered access for timely delivery of that assistance. It also encouraged all States and regional organizations, along with the Secretary General, to contribute to the implementation of this resolution.