We are aware of the report released by
Human Rights Watch on 26 November and its recommendations to the international community. The
UN Security Council has made clear that sanctions will be applied to those individuals or entities who have been designated or listed for engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Yemen. We take all reports of alleged violations of
International Humanitarian Law (
IHL) in Yemen by any side to the conflict very seriously. We have raised our concerns with the
Saudi Arabian government and have received assurances of IHL compliance and continue to engage with them on those assurances. We have also raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL and international human rights law. We agree that all parties to the conflict have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to allow and facilitate humanitarian access to facilitate immediate access to life-saving supplies both into and within Yemen.
The Resolution on Yemen adopted at the September session of the
Human Rights Council commits the Office of the
High Commissioner of Human Rights to work with the
Government of Yemen and produce an oral report on developments to be given at the next session in March 2016, and a written report to be published and presented to the Council in September 2016. We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Yemen and will continue to work with all parties to find a political solution to the conflict.