Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has held with his (a) Saudi Arabian, (b) Emirati and (c) Government of Yemen counterparts to facilitate access for the UN Humans Rights Council Panel of Eminent Experts to all regions of Yemen including Sana’a.
The UK supports the UN Group of Eminent Experts (GEE) and we welcome the renewal of its mandate. It is important to give the Group more time to fully examine the conflict and to ensure that their conclusions accurately reflect the conduct of all parties. The UK urges all parties to the conflict to cooperate with the GEE and to promote and protect human rights in Yemen. We are disappointed that the Group has not had the necessary access to the conflict zone, or been able to visit many of the countries that are engaged in the conflict. We encourage engagement with the Group as a means of ensuring that their conclusions are as well informed as possible, and that they reflect the views of all.