A/HRC/33/38
deployed three experts in international human rights law and international humanitarian law
to Amman to provide the national commission with capacity-building assistance; held
meetings with representatives of the national commission in Geneva from 7 to 11 March
2016 in order to clarify the nature of the cooperation between OHCHR and the
commission; provided the national commission with manuals and other tools, in Arabic and
English, relating to methodological standards, human rights investigations and international
humanitarian law; and sent online questionnaires and surveys to members of the national
commission and its field monitors in order to assess the needs of the national commission
and to develop customized capacity-building activities.
16.
Following the initial difficulties faced by OHCHR in receiving information from the
national commission, cooperation noticeably improved following a clarification meeting
with the presiding judge of the commission, held in Amman on 12 May 2016. Owing to the
security challenges of organizing a workshop in Aden, OHCHR moved to Amman the
location of a workshop for field monitors of the national commission; the workshop was
successfully held from 2 to 5 June 2016, with 26 field monitors attending. A seminar with
the experts of the national commission had been scheduled to take place in Amman in July
2016. Unfortunately, owing to security and logistical reasons it was cancelled, despite the
readiness to attend expressed by OHCHR and the experts.
17.
The High Commissioner understands that, since its inception, the national
commission has faced a number of challenges, notably owing to the dire security context
and the lack of cooperation with and recognition of the national commission by some of the
parties to the conflict. At the time of the drafting of the present report, the national
commission has not provided OHCHR with information on its methodology and findings or
on its progress in carrying out comprehensive and impartial inquiries.
VI. Allegations of violations and abuses
A.
Military operations
18.
OHCHR has documented substantial allegations concerning possible violations of
international humanitarian law in the context of the conduct of hostilities in Yemen during
the reporting period. In several of the documented attacks, OHCHR was unable to identify
the presence of possible military objectives. In numerous situations where military targets
could be identified there remain serious concerns as to whether the incidental loss of
civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects that could be expected from
the attack were not excessive in relation to the anticipated concrete and direct military
advantage apparently sought.
1.
Attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects carried out by the Popular Committees
affiliated with the Houthis and army units loyal to former president Saleh
Attacks on residential areas6
(a)
19.
OHCHR has documented recurrent attacks striking civilians and civilian objects,
including in residential areas, carried out by the Popular Committees and the army units
loyal to former President Saleh. The deadliest of those was the attack on the Al-Ghaleel
6
6
See annex I, section B, for more information on attacks on residential areas.
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