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Yemen
Yemen:
Urge the government of Yemen to ratify the Rome Statute of the ICC

Greater support for the International Criminal Court from the Middle East and North Africa region is vital in order to broaden the fight against impunity and the defense of fundamental human rights.

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court and its members are calling on Yemen to take a major step forward in its commitment to international justice and the rule of law by ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as soon as possible. In January 2004, Yemen demonstrated its commitment to the ICC by co-hosting the Sana’a Intergovernmental Conference on Democracy, Rule of Law and the Role of the International Criminal Court. With strong support for the ICC from Yemeni civil society and members of Yemen’s Parliament, it is imperative that the review process of the Rome Statute be speedily completed and the Statute adopted into Yemeni law.

The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of half of the world’s nations. Nearly 100 states have acceded to or ratified the treaty and 139 are signatories. However, to date, Jordan and Djbouti remain the only States Parties to the ICC treaty from among the members of the League of Arab States.

The CICC hopes that Yemen will make good on its promises to ratify the Rome Statute, thereby setting a powerful example for the entire region. Ratification of this important human rights instrument would further advance Yemen in its path towards modernization and legal reform. Without increased ratifications in this region, the Middle East and North Africa will be denied the opportunity to positively influence the ICC and ensure that the Court is a truly internationally representative mechanism for justice and peace

Take action now!

Support the CICC’s appeal by sending letters by mail or fax urging the government of Yemen to ratify the Rome Statute and implement it into national law

You might like to use the following letter as a guide.
Send your letter to:

His Excellency President Ali Abdullah Saleh
President of the Republic of Yemen
Presidential Office
Zubairy Street
Sana'a, Yemen

Fax: President ++9671274147 (His Excellency Ali Abdullah Saleh)

Minister of Human Rights ++9671444838 (Her Excellency Amat Al-Aleem Alsowa)

Email: [email protected] (President)
[email protected] (Minister of Human Rights)

Your Excellency:

I am writing to urge Yemen’s ratification of the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty. By ratifying this crucial treaty, Yemen can join with ever-growing worldwide support for the ICC which now includes the 98 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute for the ICC. As the number of countries that have ratified the Rome Statute is to soon reach the milestone of 100, it is with utmost urgency that I write for your support in ensuring prompt ratification of the Rome Statute. By doing so, Yemen would join the majority of countries around the world in ensuring an end to impunity for the worst violations of international human rights and humanitarian law – namely war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Yemen’s historic signature of the Rome Statute on December 28, 2000 was encouraging. This signing was a demonstration of Yemen’s commitment to strengthening international justice mechanisms and continuing the process of domestic legal reforms which have made the country a model for the Arab world. By ratifying the Rome Statute and implementing it into domestic law, Yemen would ensure that the highest human rights standards are incorporated into its legal system and that Yemeni courts would be able to try the gravest human rights violations, as the ICC can only act when national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute.

The limited participation of Arab states in the ICC Assembly of States Parties is a cause of concern, as it prevents Yemeni or other Arab countries from being well-represented in these most important formative years of this new Court. Currently, the Court has no Arab judges and few staff from this region, and unless more Arab countries ratify the Rome Statute, this situation is unlikely to change.

I am very encouraged by Yemen’s continued support of the Rome Statute, especially your recent hosting of an ICC conference in Sana’a in January 2004 and the noted attendance of the Yemeni Minister for Human Rights Her Excellency Ms. Amat Alseem Alsoswa, Yemeni MPs and Yemeni civil society groups at the recently concluded “Rule of Law and Protection of Civilians” conference held in Cairo which also discussed the importance of the ICC. Yemen has the historic opportunity to become among the first 100 states to ratify the Rome Statute, which will be marked by a special ceremony at the United Nations secretariat. I urge your strong support in ensuring Yemen’s prompt ratification of the Rome Statute.

Sincerely,