Yemeni rights inquiry not up to the job - U.N. official

Record ID: 85316

  • Title: Yemeni rights inquiry not up to the job - U.N. official
  • Date: 28th September 2016
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) FLAG FLYING OUTSIDE UNITED NATIONS BUILDING U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SESSION IN PROGRESS U.N. DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, KATE GILMORE, ADDRESSING COUNCIL ON YEMEN GILMORE ADDRESSING COUNCIL ON YEMEN SEEN ON BIG SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, KATE GILMORE, SAYING: "We remain convinced that a national judicial body that lacks impartiality, that does not abide by the basic norms of protection and whose mandate, composition and methodology are not aligned with the pertinent international standards, will fail. Will fail to contribute to the direly needed cohesion, stability, promotion of justice and accountability that lies at the heart of any human rights project of effect." MEMBER STATES' REPRESENTATIVES SITTING IN CHAMBER / SAUDI ARABIA'S DELEGATES SITTING IN FRONT ROW SAUDI ARABIA'S REPRESENTATIVES SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, KATE GILMORE, SAYING: "The almost 10,000 civilians killed or injured in the conflict cannot callously be referred to as 'casualty figures' alone or mere 'collateral damage'. They are husbands and wives, children and parents, they are friends and neighbours. And the report before you contains a number of examples of the kind of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law that allegedly have caused death and injury, ranging from attacks on residential areas, market places, medical and educational facilities, on public and private infrastructure. Ranging from that to the use of land mines and cluster bombs, targeted killing and sniper attacks against civilians." HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN SESSION YEMEN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. SITTING IN CHAMBER CAMERAMAN RECORDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, KATE GILMORE, SAYING: "And in numerous situations where military targets could be identified, we are concerned that the loss of civilian lives, the injury to civilians, the damage to civilian objects that could be expected from the attack may have been excessive. Excessive in relation to the anticipated, concrete and direct military advantage apparently sought." HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN SESSION
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2016 21:32
  • Keywords: Yemen commission human rights abuses U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA00151HF51J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Yemeni commission reporting on human rights abuses in the country's civil war lacks impartiality and is not up to the job, U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore said on Wednesday (September 28), adding to pressure for an independent inquiry.
    The Yemeni National Commission of Inquiry, which reports to the country's internationally recognised and Saudi-backed president, was set up a year ago after Saudi Arabia deterred a Dutch-led attempt to set up an independent investigation into the war that has killed at least 10,000 people.
    The U.N. human rights office has said air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition are responsible for most civilian casualties, and rights groups have demanded the U.N. Human Rights Council set up an independent investigation.
    Gilmore told the Council that the Yemeni inquiry "lacks impartiality, does not abide by the basic norms of protection" and its mandate, composition and methodology were not up to international standards.
    Such a body "will fail to contribute to the direly needed cohesion and stability, and to promote justice and accountability," she added.
    The Council is expected to choose between continuing the Saudi-backed investigation or backing a fresh Dutch-led demand for independent human rights monitoring on Friday (September 30).
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