United Nations; What is happening in Yemen?

Thousands of vulnerable Yemenis are stuck at a situation of war. There are more civilians being killed on a regular basis alongside migrants and asylum seekers from African countries. Humanitarian operations still face considerable challenges in ensuring humanitarian aid to the people who really need it.

Today morning, the United Nations Security Council sat to discuss the conditions of Yemen and the efforts being taken by the UN to resolve the legitimate concerns of the Yemeni people. The meeting comprised of the reactions about the Hudaydah Agreement, its implementation and the challenges being faced by civilians at large. The aftermath of war still remains the most vulnerable aspect of fighting a war. Assistance for Yemen to meet the basic needs of the population and develop the economy were the chief aspects of concerns in the Council meeting. The importance of keeping ports and airports open so that aids could keep traveling to the people who really need it, was mentioned by the delegate from Peru.

Yemen has been in a situation of distress repeatedly. The need to abide by International Law, ensure Obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian relief, Respect and continue funding for humanitarian response plan and calling for support towards the Yemeni economy have been the watchwords suggested to ensure a smooth peace transition process in Yemen.

Takeaways;

• Every country present at the council called for ensuring cooperation to support the Hudaydah agreement and urgent need for the ‘UN assessment team to verify and asses the oil tanker in Yemen’ which poses serious humanitarian and climate risk in the Red Sea region.
• Though partners are able to deliver aid, there are unacceptable delays in the process. There has been repeated delaying and blocking off projects by NGOs in regards to humanitarian aid. Terrorism is still a threat. UN and NGOs have often been forced out of Yemen and are till now routinely blocked. 
• The International Community recognizes the immense suffering civilians in Yemen are undergoing. Countries unanimously understands the importance of negotiations and dialogue to end the horrible conditions in Yemen. Russia called for a comprehensive de-escalation and continued international effort to distribute aid in a non-discriminatory basis regardless. 
• Recommendations from countries such as Poland among others came to develop the Yemeni economy urgently and advance humanitarian aid in an increased rate. There was recommendations made for introducing a regular program of foreign exchange to stabilize the exchange rate in Yemen. 

Peace processes can be murky. Bringing peace to a war-torn zone can be the work of a number of months if not years. Countries across the world often waste time by making long, unwanted statements thanking delegates at the United Nations. But, even an awareness about problems in the world, civilian casualties, the need to establish international law and an intention (no matter how bleak) to solve the situation… goes a long way to establish the process of peace!

 

UN Security Council Renews Partial Lifting of Arms Embargo on Somalia

The Security Council Members had been ‘almost’ busy discussing the security challenges in Somalia, the extreme violence being created by Al Shabaab and the work of MINUSCA in extending peace and ensuring smooth conduction of upcoming elections to be held. Though Russia and China expressed reservations about the resolution through ‘Abstentions,’ they did not veto it either. So, it was allowed to pass.

On November 15, the Security Council adopted a resolution on the Somalian sanctions regime, renewing for one year the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Somali Security Forces.  Previous discussions on the sanction resolution expressed concerns about the importance of sanctions and how it has helped in keeping weapons away from the hands of the terrorist groups. But, reports and recommendations from the expert panel on the situation in Somalia consolidated that sanctions were doing more harm than good. It was preventing the federal government of Somalia from accessing arms they required for security purposes. The draft resolution mandates that prior permission from the council is still anyway required for delivering heavy as well as small arms to Somalian Security Forces. The Arms Embargo prevents heavier weapons from reaching Somalia and groups like Al Shabaab. The partial lifting of the ban does not promise a mountain of changes for the Somalian government but introduces more hope for understanding serious recommendations!  

Context 

Since the year 1992, the Security Council has imposed several versions of a general and complete arms embargo on Somalia to deal with the vulnerable security conditions in the region. In previous statements during the month of October and November, discussions were held about renewal of the resolution and countries pursued a healthy discussion regarding the work of MINUSCA, security in the region and future work that was still required.

Countries such as the UK supported the sanctions regime and said that the arms embargo was put to help Somalia. They said that security sector reform could only happen if there were some restrictions set to prevent militant groups like Al Shabaab from accumulating arms. France  agreeing had validated that the arms embargo hinders the terrorist group Al Shabaab to supply themselves with weapons and hence it had to be continued. The US (nothing unusual) was more steadfast and aggressive in approach when it  asked the Somalia government to actually start cooperating with the UN mandate, engage with the panel of experts and support their work.

Security Council 15 Nov  

Resolution 2498 of the Security Council which renews the sanctions on Somalia for one more year passed on November 15. 

Abstention justifications were given by Russia and China in particular, quite elaborately but they did not issue a veto keeping in mind the security situation in Somalia and with elections coming up, time was running out for Somalia to hold on any longer without the renewal.

Russia and China, both were concerned about the wording and questioned the process used by UK to come up with the resolution.

Firstly, they thought the inclusion of countries such as Djibouti and Eritrea into the same resolution was unfair. Russia thought, the resolution wrongly categorized all these countries within the same scenario which makes the process much more complicated legally and technically. 

They also had reservations regarding the human rights theme being heavily included within the mandate because they believed that the issue of human rights is to be dealt with, by UNHRC and not by SC in particular.

Russia and China also had concerns regarding the process of drafting the resolution.  

Somalian representative to the Council ended with remarks that were both positive and skeptical. They did not seem too happy though! Somalia emphasized that though Al-Shabbab is being seriously dealt and monitored by the international community, the root cause of the problem is still not being properly understood.  He also mentioned skepticism about the military base in Berbera to be in clear violation of sovereignty of Somalia.  

Somalia also emphasized the need for reports regarding security situation in Somalia to be more attentive, professional and evidence-based. They harped on a reliable mechanism to be brought in to check when cases are wrongly made.  

What does this say about sustainable solution to reach lasting peace in Somalia? Maybe it gives some hope about the international community still being concerned about security but not enough hope about the speedy resolution tendencies of the UN! 

Signing off until next time..  

A case for the ratification of ‘individual complaint procedure at the international level’ to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (OPIC) at the UN

There are certain issues which are as important as arms, weapons, border firing and maritime disputes but we tend to value them less by calling them ‘softer aspects of security.’ The UN in an effort to discuss why states should ratify the provision of ‘lodging international complaint’ in the OPIC, gathered in New York headquarters of the UN.

This side event at the UN New York headquarters was hosted on the 8th of November, raising the issue of ratification of The Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC) on a Communications Procedure. It refers to the establishing of an individual and inter-states complaints procedure in OPIC. It sets up the much required inquiry procedure for child right violations beyond national borders. It allows children from states who are parties to the Protocol to bring the complaints directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Alex Conte, the Executive Director of Child Rights Connect says “OPIC is an International Human Rights Treaty which acts as a mechanism to provide justice for children. This system is especially applicable when the national government fail to provide protection to a child from a situation of conflict. OPIC puts children on the threshold to access rights and effective remedies for their own selves.”

OPIC is the only body which provides the mechanism to a child that allows her/him to have full access to rights. The inquiry commission in it is an important aspect of understanding and highlighting violations of child rights especially in situations of armed conflict and sexual violation. why are the states not ratifying the provision of registering complaints internationally, then?

They do not because the provision tends to put them in a state of vulnerability. It is an international complaint mechanism because children are being considered as right holders. States are apprehensive of ratifying it because children who are at risk or are victims of violence, this system allows them to report the complaints directly in an international forum and call for action.

OPIC calls for more accountability from the states.The ratification of the optional protocol by the states will in turn strengthen national protocol and justice systems, says Nataj Maalla M’jid, who is the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children. Surprised much that the states want to stay away from it?

The strong legal framework that calls for equal access for children by addressing discrimination, would need the states to look into their justice systems at the national level. The importance of direct accountability, elimination of middle layers to address child right issues is what we need in the world today.

Benyam Mezmur, member of the UN committee on the Rights of the Child talked about how complicated child right cases can be. The pending cases can pertain to several challenges he said. The confusion regarding the child’s age, involves psychologists, doctors to evaluate age determination through bone and teeth structures but it is important to bring into the forefront discussions of understanding child violations and the importance of it.

We might sometimes ask, what do the international organizations do? Where lies the accountability system? We ask this because we fail to know about the constant negotiations, discussions that happen around them. Growing our purview to understand what is happening, is sometimes the first step we can take to addressing the complaints we keep complaining about!

ICC talks about Gender Balanced Recruitment at the UN

In New York, world affairs unfold each day. Some of them I have been able to witness first-hand at the UN. The Special Rapporteurs present their reports, First committee discusses Disarmament measures and Russia fights with the US in the Security Council. Surprise, Surprise! Having had lost almost all faith in the system, it was not until I started attending the meetings, the arguments, the resolutions and listening to the work reports that I started thinking about writing what I see and what I hear at the UN.

This series is perhaps for all those students who are as delusional by the UN system as I used to be. For the ones who only read about what the ‘UN fails to do’ and talks about ‘how stagnant the system is.’

It was one such morning, a cold windy-day in New York City when the NYWG Meeting commenced and ICC registrar staff gathered to discuss the tools of ensuring a representative and diverse Gender/ethnic balance in the International Criminal Court. 

Geographical Representation and Gender Balance at the ICC 

Background

International criminal Court has been taking actions to improve this agenda of gender balance and representation. The Court plans to analyze and implement  strategic plans and the issue of unconscious bias to implement better geographical and gender balance through performance appraisal systems for hiring and recruiting staff.

1. ICC has just completed a series of missions in Korea, to understand the reason for low engagement of women in ICC. Direct Engagement with the country helped ICC discover some issues which are hindering the process of recruitment and promote balance in the employment system.

Report on Current Scenario 

28 professional vacant posts at currently available at the court in Netherlands. Historically half the number is has always been filled by internal candidates. 20-30 post vacancies are generally available per year, according to statistics.

Currently, there are around 3 men to 1 female in senior levels of ICC. The long-term strategy includes decreasing the number of non-represented state’s number. Over-representation is being targeted, in Asia the gap is significant.

Steps that have been taken 

1. Mentoring program for women introduced in 2019 and will continue in 2020. 55 female colleagues have already been registered
2. Gender focal point Introduction has been accounted
3. Staff engagement survey has been introduced to target and address the significant difference between male and female employees.
4. Outreach programs have been instituted to spread the word and making use of the already existing capacities

Policy Level 

1. Flexible working arrangements- to enable work, private life balance especially among women
2. Outreach missions to ensure geographical and gender balance for women
3. Using of leadership framework to pursue the same goal
4. Recruitment and sourcing efforts have been increased by – Linking and sourcing possibilities to target female candidates.

Geographical Representation 

1. Closer collaboration with stakeholders through outreach
2. Outreach by enabling integrated and customized approach
3. Training for unconscious bias in 2020, establishing working groups can collaborate and maximize the cooperation through the results. 

Recommendations by CBF (Committee on budget and finance) from Committee to be addressed by ICC 

1. The recommendation implies a different and pro-active approach to tackle the issue of gender balance and to set a target date for achievement
2. Freezing hiring from the category of non-state parties and giving opportunity for the states which are non-represented

Sometimes the UN leaves me pleasantly surprised, glad that maybe we are not as stagnant as we would like to believe after all! Signing Off until UN makes me hopeful again.