Saudi Lobbies against UN Commission of Inquiry into Rights Violations in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has succeeded in lobbying against the establishment of a commission of inquiry into allegations of human rights violations in Yemen, where the war machine in Riyadh has been breathing in the past two and a half years.

The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday approved a last-minute compromise by consensus after intense pressure from a Saudi-led group of Arab states with Western powers.

The resolution, which called for a group of “eminent experts” to be sent to war-torn Yemen, initially sought to form an independent commission of inquiry after a proposal by the Netherlands and Canada. The approved version contains amendments submitted by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

Riyadh reportedly threatened to restrict trade and diplomatic ties with council members who supported the stronger version. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also publicly expressed its appreciation to the United Kingdom, the United States and France for their cooperation in reaching a compromise. The three countries also support Saudi Arabia’s deadly aggression against impoverished Yemen.

On Friday, the council appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein to name the members of the international team to the commission, whose mission is to conduct a “comprehensive study of all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights”. And other relevant and applicable areas of international law “in war-torn Yemen.