A/HRC/18/21 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 16 September 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Eighteenth session Agenda item 2 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the visit by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Yemen ∗ ∗∗ Summary A delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) visited Yemen from 28 June to 6 July 2011 to assess the human rights situation in the country. Over nine days of extensive meetings and consultations with representatives of the Government and civil society in the cities of Aden, Sana’a and Ta’izz, the Assessment Mission observed an overall situation in which many Yemenis, peacefully calling for greater freedoms, an end to corruption and respect for the rule of law, have been met with an excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force by the State. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have suffered injuries, including loss of limbs. By February 2011, Yemenis had taken to the streets either to call for governmental reforms or in support of the Government. In March 2011, 53 persons were reportedly killed in Change Square in Sana’a, an incident which led to the resignation of a number of ministers, ambassadors, members of Parliament, members of the Shura Council (the Upper House), members of the ruling party, as well as the defection of General Ali Mohsen AlAhmar, who pledged to send his troops to protect the peaceful demonstrators in the Square. In April 2011, a Cabinet of National Accord was initiated and signed by the opposition coalition in May 2011, but not by the President of Yemen. At the end of May 2011, following a riot and the brief kidnapping of security officials, Freedom Square in Ta’izz, was forcefully cleared by security officials of the Government. Tents were burned and dozens of demonstrators were killed. Tribes claiming to protect the protesters sent armed supporters to the Square and occupied certain public buildings. ∗ ∗∗ GE.11-16002 Late submission. The footnotes are reproduced as received, in the language of submission only.