A/HRC/18/21 I. Introduction 1. In the context of persistent and widespread unrest in Yemen, on 8 April 2011, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights requested authorization from the Government of Yemen to send an OHCHR team to that country to assess the human rights situation. The Government of Yemen responded favourably to the High Commissioner’s request on 12 May 2011.1 2. The mandate of the Assessment Mission (hereafter the “Mission”), as agreed by the Government of Yemen, was as follows: • To conduct a preliminary assessment of the human rights situation, in light of recent events, with a view to formulating appropriate recommendations to stakeholders, including the international community and responsible parties in Yemen; • To engage with a broad range of actors and obtain first-hand understanding of the current human rights situation in Yemen, including the structural causes and patterns of violations; • To provide the Government with a set of recommendations on current and long-term priorities, and specific steps to enhance human rights protection in Yemen. 3. In light of the deteriorating human rights situation in Yemen, the Human Rights Council adopted procedural decision 17/117 on 16 June 2011, in which it welcomed the invitation extended by the Government of Yemen to OHCHR to conduct a visit to the country, and requested the High Commissioner to report on the said visit to the Council and to engage in an interactive dialogue thereon at its eighteenth session. II. Modalities of work 4. The Assessment Mission to Yemen was carried out from 28 June to 6 July 2011 in close coordination with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Yemen, whose support throughout the mission was highly appreciated. The Government of Yemen facilitated the Mission and the delegation met with many key officials, including the Vice-President of Yemen, who was acting as Head of State in the absence of the President; the Special Adviser to the President; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Minister of the Interior; the Minister of Justice; the Minister of Legal Affairs, who was concurrently acting Minister of Human Rights; the Minister of Tourism; the Deputy Minister of Health; the Minister in charge of internally displaced persons (IDPs); the Chair of the Supreme Judiciary Council and the Supreme Court; the Attorney General. The Mission also met with leaders of political parties; members of Parliament; representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs); journalists; lawyers; doctors; human rights defenders; victims and their relatives and the United Nations Country Team. The Mission appreciates the support of the Government of Yemen and the assistance received from civil society organizations throughout the visit. 1 4 The Government of Yemen had previously invited OHCHR to join a national commission to investigate allegations of human rights violations in the context of ongoing unrest. However, OHCHR had informed the Permanent Representative of Yemen that the independent character of its mandate restricted the ability of the Office to engage in such particular form of direct collaboration with a national inquiry, but had expressed its willingness to consider other forms of support and cooperation.