Barran Press
On Monday, December 2, 2024, the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, established under Resolution 2140 (2014), agreed to take follow-up measures regarding the recommendations in the final report of the Yemen Expert Team for 2024, submitted in accordance with paragraph 3 of Resolution 2707 (2023).
A brief statement published on the UN's media site, monitored by Barran Press, noted that the committee's approval for follow-up actions came after reviewing the report and reconsidering its recommendations.
The Expert Team's annual report, addressed to the President of the Security Council on October 11, 2024, emphasized that violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Yemen "continue unabated, particularly by the Houthis."
These violations include "indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, acts of sexual violence related to the conflict, gender-based violence including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment."
According to the report, "these actions hinder humanitarian efforts and obstruct the United Nations' initiatives to promote peace and security in Yemen."
The report also addressed the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the conflict, noting that this "threatens the stability of Yemeni society in the future and the prospects for sustainable peace and security."
Additionally, it highlighted the summer camps organized by the Houthis, stating they are exploited "to spread hatred, violence, and discrimination." It also mentioned that educators resisting the politicization of the educational system face severe reprisals, including arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.
The Expert Team recommended that the international community assist Yemeni authorities in intensifying monitoring and investigation activities to ensure comprehensive examination and documentation of violations of the right to a fair trial in Houthi-controlled areas, which often result in death sentences. They also called for strengthening investigative and judicial infrastructure and resources.
Furthermore, they suggested that the committee consider issuing a press statement condemning the use of misinformation and propaganda to facilitate violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Yemen, including the arbitrary detention of humanitarian workers and political opponents, urging all stakeholders to actively engage in combating misinformation and supporting these efforts.
In its statement today, the committee condemned "violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Yemen," urging all stakeholders to actively participate in efforts to protect humanitarian operations and workers.
The Sanctions Committee consists of all fifteen members of the Security Council and makes decisions by consensus. In addition to monitoring the implementation of sanctions measures, it reviews information related to alleged violations or non-compliance and takes appropriate actions, including granting exemptions from sanctions on a case-by-case basis.