A/HRC/24/34 process which, once it concludes its work in September 2013, will be followed by a constitution-drafting process leading to a referendum on the adoption of a new Constitution and the holding of general elections in February 2014.2 On 20 June 2013, media reported that the Yemeni Supreme Commission for Elections had announced that the Constitutional referendum would take place on 15 October 2013.3 5. NDC has met in nine thematic working groups as defined in the Transition Agreement, on themes varying from the most critical political issues of Southern Yemen and the question of Sa’ada, to those bearing significant human rights dimensions, including State-Building (Principles and Foundations of Constitution), Rights and Freedoms, Good Governance, Independent Institutions and Social Issues, National Reconciliation and Transitional Justice. Issues pertaining to specific groups such as women, youth and marginalized communities have been mainstreamed throughout the work of NDC.4 6. The NDC Technical Committee was charged with the organization of NDC, particularly with regard to member representation. It decided to guarantee representation for the southern population at a rate of at least 50 per cent of the total number of conference members, women at a rate of 30 per cent and youth at a rate of 20 per cent of all participating groups and entities.5 This process led to the participation of 565 participants from different sections of society. Despite the lengthy and tense nomination process, most of the seats were eventually granted to the major political blocks. This led to complaints by representatives of independent youth movements, which had been at the forefront of the 2011 events, for receiving a limited number of seats. Minority groups like the Jewish and Ismaili communities did not obtain any representation, whereas the Muhamasheen6 were given only one seat, with a view to submitting recommendations to tackle the deep-rooted discrimination faced by the members of their community. The United Nations, spearheaded by the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Yemen, in addition to other international actors and national stakeholders, have supported the process in various ways, particularly to ensure the active and meaningful participation of all Yemenis, in line with Security Council resolutions 2014 (2011) and 2051 (2012) (para. 3 (a)). 7. The non-participation of some key Southern leaders, combined with demonstrations calling for the independence of the South as well as strikes organized by the Southern proindependence movement Al Hirak in Southern cities, added to uncertainty surrounding expectations about the results of the Dialogue. The repression of those demonstrations, most notably on 21 February 2013, has exacerbated tensions in the South. 8. The participation in NDC of the Al Houthi Movement (also known as Ansar Allah), the armed group which has de facto control over the Governorate of Sa’ada and other areas in northern Yemen, has been a significant step forward. However, the dispute at NDC as well as in northern Yemen between the Al Houthi Movement and groups such as the 2 3 4 5 6 4 According to the GCC Implementation Agreement, once NDC concludes its work, the National Consensus Government will appoint a committee to draft the constitutional amendments within three months. A constitutional referendum to approve the changes will then be held. See “Yemen referendum set for October 15th”, al-shorfa.com. Available from http://alshorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/newsbriefs/2013/06/21/newsbrief-05. The other working groups are Military and Security and Comprehensive Development. For more information, see also www.ndc.ye/page.aspx?show=67. For more information, see www.ndc.ye/page.aspx?show=68. The Muhamasheen community, also referred to as Al Akhdam (“servant” in Arabic), are a minority group distinct by their African features and are confined to menial jobs. See also A/HRC/19/51, para. 45, and A/HRC/21/37, para. 50.