In its discussion of the situation in Yemen, the Security Council must emphasize its unwavering support for the ongoing truce and remind all parties to the conflict and their allies of the importance of upholding international humanitarian, human rights, and refugee law. Since the truce came into effect on 2 April 2022, there has been an overall reduction in violence against civilians and some limited improvements in humanitarian space. However, against the backdrop of the ongoing health, economic, environmental, and climate crises, the humanitarian situation will continue to be dire. An estimated 23.4 million Yemenis are in need of assistance, an increase since 2021, and by the end of the year, there is concern that 19 million people will be facing high levels of acute food insecurity, including more than 1 million pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls. More than 80% of Yemenis now live below the poverty line, some on less than 50 cents a day. This is particularly evident among marginalized Muhamasheen community and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and in districts heavily impacted by frontline fighting. Yet, delivery of humanitarian assistance, including notably to the estimated 4 million persons with disabilities in Yemen, continues to be undermined by ongoing constraints on humanitarian access (specifically in the context of access to services, restrictions on movement – particularly of female aid workers – and interference with humanitarian activities), lack of sufficient donor funding to meet growing humanitarian needs, and ongoing restrictions on imports of oil, food and other vital supplies. At the same time, conditions in camps for IDPs, particularly women and girls, often fail to meet fundamental needs, with women unable to access essential services, such as clean water and health care.  Further, human rights violations targeting marginalized communities, including diverse women, persons with disabilities, displaced persons, migrants and ethnic and religious minorities continue to be documented. In particular, women and girls face restrictions on their freedom of movement, lack of access to basic services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and threats and risks, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, hate speech, and even targeted killings, particularly for women peacebuilders, human rights defenders, political leaders, activists, artists, and journalists. In any adopted outcome, the Council should call for all parties to fully uphold international humanitarian law and human rights law, and fully reflect the recommendations laid forth by previous civil society briefers, including Ms. Al-Salafi (S/PV.9063), and further:

• Include a mandate provision clarifying that, as a special political mission, UNMHA must mainstream gender across all its operations, including particularly by supporting women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in all peace and political processes, facilitating confidence-building measures with diverse women leaders and women’s groups, and regularly consulting with diverse women’s groups. In this context, UNMHA should be given sufficient resources and capacity to implement its mandate in a gender-responsive manner by ensuring there is gender expertise, led by a senior gender advisor.
• Emphasize the necessity of an inclusive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process that is designed to build the foundation for just and sustainable peace with the full, equal and meaningful participation of diverse women, youth and civil society of all political backgrounds from all regions of Yemen, in all diplomatic tracks and stages of the peace process, including in leadership roles, and further call on the Special Envoy to push for the inclusion of women in the main committees formed as a result of the peace process including the prisoners’ exchange, the Taiz ceasefire, and the security and military committees. Additionally, the Special Envoy should be directed to consult regularly and transparently with diverse women’s civil society groups, which should be supported through core, flexible and long-term funding.
• Call for a cessation of arms transfers and other support to the conflict parties and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).