Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking in its role as penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council to support the creation of an international mechanism to ensure accountability for human rights violations and war crimes.

Yemen is a human rights priority country for the UK. In the latest FCDO human rights report published in December 2022, covering 2021, we highlighted our concerns over women's rights, the recruitment of child soldiers, arbitrary detention, attacks on freedom of religion or belief and on freedom of speech and association. We call upon all parties to the conflict in Yemen to comply with their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We regret that the mandate of the UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen was not renewed in October 2021, the UK voted in favour of the mandate renewal. We are discussing with international partners the potential for a follow-up mechanism to support human rights accountability in Yemen. Justice and accountability are key for inclusive and durable peace.