A/HRC/27/44
drafted by the Ministry of Justice, reviewed by the Committee and later submitted to the
Parliament.
J.
Marginalized groups
58.
The Muhamasheen community has been successful in advocating its rights in the
National Dialogue Conference, especially in the area of participation in the public sphere.
The Conference’s Working Group on Rights and Freedoms recommended a 10 per cent
participation in employment in public services, as well as equal access in leadership and
decision-making positions. The Conference outcomes also focused on the development of a
specialized national body to ensure Muhamasheen integration into society, particularly in
accessing justice, education and training as well as military service. Other outcomes called
for the drafting of national plans for the Muhamasheen community to claim their rights.
59.
Despite this progress, Yemen’s marginalized communities continue to be victims of
attacks or neglect by the authorities. The National Muhamasheen Union reported several
attacks against communities across the country, which resulted in their displacement from
temporary built homes. OHCHR–Yemen recorded two cases of forced displacement in the
Ta’izz Governorate.24
K.
Cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights
60.
On 26 September 2012, OHCHR and the Government of Yemen signed a host
country agreement formally establishing an OHCHR field presence in Yemen. Its premises
were officially inaugurated on 30 September 2013, under the auspices of the United
Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
61.
During the reporting period, OHCHR continued to provide support towards the
development of the draft transitional justice law. As part of the OHCHR-UNDP transitional
justice programme, countrywide consultations on transitional justice were organized
between government representatives and civil society. These consultations enabled the
parties to reach consensus about human rights violations and sensitive political issues, with
the aim of overcoming the sectarian divide. The consultative process included sections of
society that had previously been excluded, such as Houthi representatives, citizens from
southern governorates, victims’ associations and tribesmen. More than 700 Yemenis were
involved in the events.
62.
Parallel consultations on the draft law on Transitional Justice and National
Reconciliation were organized by OHCHR. Subsequently, comments on the law were
submitted to the Minister of Legal Affairs, who in turn submitted the revised law in May
2014 to the Cabinet for further elaboration. In the context of the transitional justice
programme, OHCHR and UNDP supported the Ministry in establishing a transitional
justice office and trained Ministry staff on transitional justice.
24
14
In an incident in the village of Jabal Habash, clashes between the Muhamasheen and the resident
communities resulted in 25 households being displaced, with local authorities not intervening to
protect the Al-Muhamasheen community. In the second incident, in the Al Jomalh area, a temporary
Muhamasheen settlement, consisting of 62 households and approximately 300 members, who had
been living on the land for 30 years, was threatened with eviction when a businessman purchased the
land. The Governor of Ta’izz promised the community a new piece of land. However, at the time of
reporting, no land had been identified.
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