A/HRC/42/CRP.1 Contents Page I. Introduction and mandate ............................................................................................................... 5 II. Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 7 III. IV. V. VI. VII. A. Standard of proof ................................................................................................................... 7 B. Attribution of responsibility.................................................................................................... 8 C. Protection of sources, victims, and witnesses ........................................................................... 8 D. Sources of evidence, methods of conducting interviews, and access constraints .......................... 9 Legal framework ......................................................................................................................... 12 A. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 12 B. Applicable Law ................................................................................................................... 12 C. Legal Analysis .................................................................................................................... 15 Cooperation with the Group of Eminent Experts ............................................................................ 22 A. Cooperation during the first mandate September 2017 – August 2018 ...................................... 22 B. Cooperation during the second mandate September 2018 – August 2019.................................. 22 Context, background, and update on the political situation .............................................................. 23 A. Precursors to the current armed conflict ................................................................................. 23 B. Armed conflict and political developments: September 2014 to August 2019 ........................... 26 Emblematic situations.................................................................................................................. 28 A. The battle of Aden (March – September 2015) ....................................................................... 28 B. Control of Aden and the south (2016 – 2019) ......................................................................... 50 C. Ta’izz, the continual frontline ............................................................................................... 69 D. Life in Sana’a and other areas under de facto authority control ................................................ 90 E. The battle of al-Hudaydah (2018 – 2019)............................................................................. 123 F. Al-Mahra (2018 – 2019) .................................................................................................... 145 Gender analysis and gender-based violence ................................................................................. 147 VIII. Impact of the armed conflict on children ..................................................................................... 159 IX. Thematic issues ......................................................................................................................... 175 A. Violations related to the humanitarian situation .................................................................... 175 B. Impact of the conflict on minorities ..................................................................................... 195 C. Military use and destruction of cultural property .................................................................. 202 X. Accountability .......................................................................................................................... 205 XI. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................ 221 Annexes Annex I: Mapping of military and security apparatus and armed groups ................................................... 227 Annex II: Selected communications with parties related to access restrictions ........................................... 257 Annex III: Maps of Yemen ................................................................................................................... 271 3