Save the Children Statement on International Investigations in Yemen
On Friday 29th September, members of the UN Human Rights Council including the United Kingdom unanimously approved a resolution to establish a “Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts” to monitor and report on violations of international human rights law and other violations in Yemen.
This resolution was adopted following repeated calls by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, member states led by the Netherlands, and civil society for the establishment of an international independent investigative mechanism.
Save the Children welcomes role of the UK in reaching a compromise solution and urges the UN to ensure investigators are impartial and have the right expertise. It is critical that they can access all of Yemen and start their work with immediate effect.
A Save the Children spokesperson said:
“For more than two years our teams on the ground have been helping children who have been subject to brutal attacks on their homes, schools and hospitals. This decision is a welcome step towards justice for Yemen’s children.
“For this resolution to stop grave violations against children, it is crucial that impartial experts are granted unfettered access across Yemen, remain truly independent, and carry out their investigations without delay. Investigations must lead to action – this resolution will be meaningless if warring parties are not held to account for past crimes and for changing their behaviour.
“The situation in Yemen is beyond bleak. Thousands of children have been killed or maimed, hundreds of thousands infected with cholera, and millions are suffering from acute malnutrition. It is high time those responsible for killing and starving children are held responsible.”