Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 18th Session
Universal Periodic Review of Yemen
Statement by Australia
29 January 2013
Australia welcomes Yemen’s reforms to strengthen its human rights framework.
Yemen’s transition process provides an opportunity to further human rights protection. We recommend that human rights be taken into account in the constitutional process, particularly those of women and marginalised or vulnerable groups.
We remain concerned by the continued use of the death penalty across a range of crimes, particularly against minors. Australia recommends Yemen ensure full compliance with international standards on the death penalty but ultimately establish a moratorium with a view to ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.
Australia notes reports of human rights abuses by security forces and non-state actors, including reports of excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force and torture, and arbitrary detention. We recommend Yemen ensure that those responsible, including for human rights violations in 2011, are investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted and that Yemen ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Australia urges Yemen to implement further reform to overcome discriminatory practices affecting women and girls. We recommend that Yemen become party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol.