Geneva - The United Nations Human Rights Council and its member states should exert every possible effort to spare civilians in Yemen the repercussions of the armed conflict, in addition to holding accountable those engaged in systematic violations of human rights, said the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and the African Culture International (ACI) in an oral statement before the Council at its 39th session.

A humanitarian crisis in Yemen is already unfolding, thanks to the systematic targeting by the Arab Coalition as well as armed groups, said Alaa Barghouthi, Euro-Med’s researcher, stressing that dozens of executions and hundreds of kidnappings were carried out on the background of political affiliations and journalistic work.

Especially recently, the right to life in the country has been subjected to grave violations, in addition to suppressing of fundamental freedoms, including that of opinion and expression. Extrajudicial killings are also carried out to eliminate political dissidence, added Barghouti.

 The oral statement also addressed the continued targeting of civilian objects and civilian populations, including children, by the Arab Coalition Forces, as well as continuing cases of enforced disappearance, torture, imprisonment without trial in secret prisons, all of which have further exacerbated the crisis and fuelled extremism.

The two organizations reiterated calls for implementing the recommendations of the report by the Committee of Experts and that of the Commission of Inquiry on Yemen. The two reports call for concrete steps to stop these violations and to work towards the establishment of a special international tribunal to hold perpetrators of violations accountable, thus putting an end to impunity and encouraging respect for human rights.

 The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and the African Culture International called on the Council and its member states to pressure the parties to the conflict in Yemen, including armed groups, to comply by the rules of international humanitarian law and to avoid endangering the lives of civilians.

 The two organizations also called for further monitoring of violations by the conflicting parties and for activating accountability as well as ensuring return of stability and order to Yemen.