Human Rights Day

This week we celebrate the 68th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For the people of Yemen who have suffered during two years of war this must feel like an abstract and distant concept.

Prior to the conflict Yemen was already one of the poorest countries in the region and now, as a result of the fighting, nearly 19 million Yemenis are in need of humanitarian assistance. The people of Yemen have also been subjected to unrelenting abuses of their human rights including detention, torture and murder at the hands of the Houthis and forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh; and of other extremists who have exploited the conflict to expand their influence.

Freedom of the media is under threat in Yemen with journalists forcibly detained and murdered by armed groups seeking to hide the truth of their appalling actions. Religious minorities are persecuted and held in prisons without cause or legal recourse.

To end this war we must listen to and empower the voices of those whose human rights have been trampled on; the most vulnerable; those who seek peace but have had conflict forced upon them; women; and Yemen’s youth, all of whom are crying out for a better future.

Research indicates that women can play a critical role in peace building. However, Yemen continues to sit at the bottom of international gender equality indices. The UK regularly lobbies for the greater inclusion of women in peace talks. We are backing this up with practical assistance – supporting UN Women’s capacity building work to help amplify the voices of Yemeni women, and increase their access to and participation in the peace process.

This week, on the 68^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we should commit to ensuring that the voices of all those who struggle for peace are properly heard.