"Joint Letter" for Mr. Hans Grundberg, United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Distinguished Representatives of Diplomatic Missions to Yemen, Esteemed Representatives of Yemeni Parties,
Mr. Hans Grundberg, United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen,
Distinguished Representatives of Diplomatic Missions to Yemen,
Esteemed Representatives of Yemeni Parties,
Greetings,
Mwatana for Human Rights and the undersigned organizations extend their sincere gratitude for the ongoing peace initiatives aimed at achieving a comprehensive and equitable peace agreement in Yemen. The journey towards a comprehensive political resolution represents the most effective path to alleviate the suffering endured by millions of Yemeni civilians throughout the nine-year armed conflict. This conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties and has precipitated severe economic and humanitarian crises across Yemen.
It is evident that the recent economic arm-twisting strategy employed by the conflicting parties has notably exacerbated humanitarian and human rights conditions in Yemen, instilling widespread fear among Yemeni society, thereby imperiling both present and future generations.
We underscore the critical importance of integrating the following human rights priorities into your commendable efforts to forge peace in Yemen:
• Addressing all Issues Undermining the National Economy and Unifying the Currency.
Economic disputes among conflicting parties in Yemen have aggravated economic and humanitarian suffering, deteriorating the Yemeni economy and currency. These economic disputes have created a financial gap that impacts the living conditions of Yemenis. This includes differences in currency among parties, disparities in the dollar exchange rate, and recent decisions affecting banks and their main branches in areas controlled by different parties to the conflict, which have undermined the national economy and exacerbated the country's economic problems.
• Ensuring Payment of Public Sector Employees' Salaries Suspended Since 2016
The suspension of public sector employees' salaries for over eight years has significantly exacerbated humanitarian suffering in Yemen, further deteriorating economic and living conditions. The rising cost of living has economically and socially suffocated the Yemeni populace, leading to severe social issues, including family homelessness and the inability to complete education at both school and university levels. Students are increasingly dropping out to seek livelihoods, and families are becoming homeless due to the inability of breadwinners to meet their basic needs.
• Releasing All Forcibly Disappeared and Arbitrarily Detained by All Parties
Despite an unofficial truce and cessation of hostilities and airstrikes among the conflict parties, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions of civilians continue unabated since the onset of the conflict. These actions persist under procedures lacking minimal legal guarantees provided for in Yemeni legislation and international treaties. Persistent economic and political disagreements among the conflicting parties have led to the detention and disappearance of hundreds of Yemeni civilian men and women. This has also fueled the anger and resentment of parties to the conflict, resulting in violations against civilians in areas under their control.
• Opening All Roads and Crossings Between Different Governorates
Since the onset of the conflict in Yemen, various parties to the conflict have implemented a strategy of road closures, significantly exacerbating the suffering of Yemenis. This strategy has led to multiple crises and made travel and mobility across Yemeni governorates increasingly difficult. Despite the positive step taken by parties last June to reopen roads for vehicles and travelers, such as the Al-Hawban - Taiz road, Marib - Al-Bayda road, Aqabat Tharat Abyan - Al-Bayda road, and Haifan - Aden road, it remains crucial for all parties to commit to fully opening all roads and crossings between Yemen's different governorates. This commitment must ensure the freedom of movement for Yemeni civilians and facilitate their mobility effectively.
• Ending All Restrictions Imposed on Yemeni Airports and Reopening Them for Commercial Flights
It is essential to ensure agreement among parties to end all restrictions imposed on Yemeni airports and reopen them for commercial flights. Parties must also commit to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian necessities to Yemeni society, setting aside political and economic disputes. Using airports as bargaining chips between parties must be brought to an end.
• Establishing a National Path for Mine Clearance and Clearing Various Areas of Yemen
Mwatana for Human Rights and the undersigned urge all parties, particularly the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, to immediately cease planting mines, provide maps of mine-contaminated areas, and collaborate on their clearance. This is crucial to preventing further civilian casualties, allowing residents to safely return to their homes, and resuming their livelihoods securely.
• Returning Plundered Property Due to Conflict
Due to political and economic disputes among the conflict parties, there have been numerous cases of looting of properties belonging to Yemeni individuals and companies. Exploiting the volatile security situation and unstable conflict conditions, individuals associated with different parties to the conflict have aimed to enrich themselves by plundering assets such as companies, funds, homes, real estate, and private sector institutions. It is imperative to ensure the return of these unlawfully seized properties to their rightful owners.
• Respecting the work of civil society institutions
Urging the conflict parties to respect the freedom of work of civil society institutions, local and international, and to demonstrate a fundamental commitment to facilitating independent and legitimate civil society activities in accordance with the law, lifting all restrictions imposed on its activities, and stopping repressive practices against civil society institutions and their workers, in all regions of Yemen.
Conclusion
Millions of Yemenis eagerly await efforts to end the war and bring peace, with profound hopes that such initiatives will alleviate their suffering. It is a historic responsibility borne by the participants to end nearly a decade of conflict, war, and violations perpetrated against Yemeni civilians by the conflicting parties, which have caused immense suffering, economic hardship, and forced many into exile and displacement. They place full responsibility for realizing their legitimate hopes on all stakeholders in Yemen, urging them to propose a comprehensive and enduring solution that prioritizes Yemen's interests and the aspirations of its entire population above all other considerations.
Signatories :
Mwatana for Human Rights
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
International Federation for Human Rights
Campaign Against Arms Trade
ALQST For Human Rights
Dameer Foundation for Human Rights
Sama Al-Yemen Development Foundation
Al Rowad Foundation for Development
Democracy School
Siaq Organization for Youth and Development
Al-Wed Development Foundation
Humanity Mediators Organization for Development
Enqath Foundation for Development
Peace Horizons
Together We Rise Foundation for Women and Child Care
Madani Foundation for Development
Land of Peace Foundation
PASS Foundation
Marib Dam Foundation for Social Development
Forcibly Displaced Foundation for Development and Rights
