Today is Annual Human Rights Day. At a time when human rights, humanitarian issues, diversity and equality are very much in the news, and all topical but vexed issues in crisis-torn Yemen, I want to mark this day with some reflections on where we stand.
Having children of my own, I am particularly mindful of the impact of conflict on the human rights and the prospects of the youngsters who represent the future of Yemen.
My first blog as the UK’s Ambassador to Yemen was on this very issue, and marked the publication of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Human Rights Report, which details our efforts to promote human rights globally in 2014. And my most recent blog focussed on women’s rights.
Whilst Yemen was going through an extremely difficult time when I first wrote on 15 March, I don’t think that many of us could have envisaged then that there would be violent conflict continuing in to December. Nor could many have predicted that so many would have suffered, and that the lives of millions continue to be endangered. The conflict has exacerbated what was already a dire human rights situation: child soldiers; child marriage; restrictions on media; religious persecution; the use of the death penalty; and of course malnutrition and deprivation of education of a whole young generation.
Next week, the parties to the conflict will meet in Switzerland under the auspices of the UN. The importance of this first, tentative, step towards peace cannot be understated. I congratulate all sides on their willingness to meet, and that they have all agreed to an agenda and code of conduct during talks. It is also a testament to the tireless efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.
President Hadi’s announcement of last week that the Government of Yemen and its supporters will observe a ceasefire is also welcome. Not only will this hopefully allow aid to get to those who need it more quickly and freely, but it will be a valuable confidence-building measure to help discussions progress. I urge all sides to abide by the ceasefire and put the immediate humanitarian needs of Yemenis first. Whoever you believe has done you wrong, you can surely see that their children do not deserve to suffer for it.
In March I wrote that the only way that Yemenis were going to stop suffering and start experiencing improvements in their lives is if all political actors stop the violence, politicking, and putting their personal interests first. I stressed this meant constructive engagement in negotiations where all parties are able to participate freely – parties who demonstrate they hold the human rights of the Yemeni people, and the well-being of Yemen, at their heart. This rings true, now more than ever.