Security Council

6634^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council Condemns Human Rights Violations by Yemeni Authorities,

 

Abuses by ‘Other Actors’, after Months of Political Strife

 

Resolution 2014 (2011), Adopted Unanimously, Calls for End to Violence,

Acceptance of Gulf Cooperation Council Peace Plan, with Orderly Transfer of Power

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 this 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.

The meeting began at 3:33 p.m. and ended at 3:35 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2014 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its Press Statements of 24 September 2011, 9 August 2011, and 24 June 2011,

“Expressing grave concern at the situation in Yemen,

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen,

“Welcoming the Secretary-General’s statement of 23 September 2011 urging all sides to engage in a constructive manner to achieve a peaceful resolution to the current crisis,

“Welcoming the engagement of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and reaffirming the support of the Security Council for the GCC’s efforts to resolve the political crisis in Yemen,

“Welcoming the continuing efforts of the Good Offices of the Secretary-General, including the visits to Yemen by the Special Adviser,

“Taking note of the Human Rights Council resolution on Yemen (A/HRC/RES/18/19), and underlining the need for a comprehensive, independent and impartial investigation consistent with international standards into alleged human rights abuses and violations, with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring full accountability, and noting in this regard the concerns expressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,

“Welcoming the statement by the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council on 23 September 2011 which called for the immediate signing by President Saleh and implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, condemned the use of force against unarmed demonstrators, and called for restraint, a commitment to a full and immediate ceasefire and the formation of a commission to investigate the events that led to the killing of innocent Yemeni people,

“Expressing serious concern at the worsening security situation, including armed conflict, and the deterioratingeconomic and humanitarian situation due to the lack of progress on a political settlement, and the potential for the further escalation of violence,

“Reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women, peace, and security, and reiterating the need for the full, equal and effective participation of women at all stages of peace-processes given their vital role in the prevention and resolution of conflict and peacebuilding, reaffirming the key role women play in re-establishing the fabric of society and stressing the need for their involvement in conflict resolution in order to take into account their perspective and needs,

“Expressing serious concernalsoaboutthe increasing number of internally displaced persons and refugees in Yemen, the alarming levels of malnutrition caused by drought and soaring fuel and food prices, the increasing interruption of basic supplies and social services, and increasingly difficult access to safe water and health care,

“Expressing further serious concern at the increased threat from Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and the risk of new terror attacks in parts of Yemen, and reaffirming that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations,

“Condemning all terrorist and other attacks against civilians and against the authorities, including those aimed at jeopardizing the political process in Yemen, such as the attack on the Presidential compound in Sana’a on 3 June 2011,

“Recalling the Yemeni Government’s primary responsibility to protect its population,

“Stressing that the best solution to the current crisis in Yemen is through an inclusive and Yemeni-led political process of transition that meets the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Yemeni people for change,

“Reaffirming its support for the Presidential decree of 12 September which is designed to find a political agreement acceptable to all parties, and to ensure a peaceful and democratic transition of power, including the holding of early Presidential elections,

“Stressing the importance of the stability and security of Yemen, particularly regarding overall international counter-terrorism efforts,

“Mindful of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations, and emphasizing the threats to regional security and stability posed by the deterioration of the situation in Yemen in the absence of a lasting political settlement,

“1.   Expresses profound regret at the hundreds of deaths, mainly of civilians, including women and children;

“2.   Strongly condemns the continued human rights violations by the Yemeni authorities, such as the excessive use of force against peaceful protestors as well as the acts of violence, use of force, and human rights abuses perpetrated by other actors, and stresses that all those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses should be held accountable;

“3.   Demands that all sides immediately reject the use of violence to achieve political goals;

“4.   Reaffirms its view that the signature and implementation as soon as possible of a settlement agreement on the basis of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative is essential for an inclusive, orderly, and Yemeni-led process of political transition, notes the signing of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative by some opposition parties and the General People’s Congress, calls on all parties in Yemen to commit themselves to implementation of a political settlement based upon this initiative, notes the commitment by the President of Yemen to immediately sign the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and encourages him, or those authorized to act on his behalf, to do so, and to implement a political settlement based upon it, and calls for this commitment to be translated into action, in order to achieve a peaceful political transition of power, as stated in the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and the Presidential decree of 12 September, without further delay;

“5.   Demands that the Yemeni authorities immediately ensure their actions comply with obligations under applicable international humanitarian and human rights law, allow the people of Yemen to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including their rights of peaceful assembly to demand redress of their grievances and freedom of expression, including for members of the media, and take action to end attacks against civilians and civilian targets by security forces;

“6.   Calls upon all concerned parties to ensure the protection of women and children, to improve women’s participation in conflict resolution and encourages all parties to facilitate the equal and full participation of women at decision-making levels;

“7.   Urges all opposition groups to commit to playing a full and constructive part in the agreement and implementation of a political settlement on the basis of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, and demands that all opposition groups refrain from violence, and cease the use of force to achieve political aims;

“8.   Further demands that all armed groups remove all weapons from areas of peaceful demonstration, refrain from violence and provocation, refrain from the recruitment of children, and urges all parties not to target vital infrastructure;

“9.   Expresses its concern over the presence of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, and its determination to address this threat in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law including applicable human rights, refugee and humanitarian law;

“10.  Encourages the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen, and in this regard requests all parties in Yemen to facilitate the work of the United Nations agencies and other relevant organizations, and ensure full, safe and unhindered access for the timely delivery of the humanitarian aid to persons in need across Yemen;

“11.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue his Good Offices, including through visits by the Special Adviser, and to continue to urge all Yemeni stakeholders to implement the provisions of this resolution, and encourage all States and regional organizations to contribute to this objective;

“12.  Requests the Secretary-General to report on implementation of this resolution within 30 days of its adoption and every 60 days thereafter;

“13.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record