Item 10 Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
Human Rights Council Session 31
As Delivered by Ambassador Keith Harper
March 2016, Geneva
We welcome the work of the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Yemen.
With respect to the conflict in Yemen, we share the High Commissioner’s particular concern over civilian casualties caused by all actors in the conflict and the deteriorating human rights situation. We call on all parties in Yemen to take all feasible precautions to protect the lives of civilians. We also call on all parties to facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid, to provide rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors, and to cooperate fully with UN humanitarian efforts.
We note Saudi Arabia’s recent announcement of a commission to address reports of civilian casualties caused by coalition airstrikes. We encourage this commission to conduct thorough and objective reviews of the incidents involving credible reports of civilian harm and, when appropriate, address any factors that led to them in order to mitigate the risks to civilians in future operations.
We strongly support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to continue to bring the Yemeni parties into political dialogue to end the fighting, and create a sustainable path forward that respects and protects the human rights of all Yemenis.