UNICYEM

Launch of ‘Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System in Yemen 2010-2012’ project

UNICEF Sana’a, 6 March 2010 A three-year project to strengthen juvenile justice systems in Yemen was launched today by the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights, the Delegation of the European Union and UNICEF. The project aims to offer alternatives to detention and access to services at the pre-trial, trial and post-trial stages, and to promote the social reintegration of juveniles in conflict with the law and community-based prevention. The European Union has provided 3.5 million Euro to UNICEF for project, and UNICEF will contribute the remaining 700,000 Euro from its regular resources. UNICEF has been working with the Ministry of Justice in this area for several years. Speaking at the launch this morning, UNICEF Representative, Aboudou Karimou Adjibadé said, “This project will continue to build on the previous experience and process, which started more than ten years ago, to build a child-friendly justice system.” He added that child-friendly courts and more women in the juvenile justice system will improve the protective environment needed by young people. The Representative of the European Union, Michele Cervone, said, “There is a sense of urgency to make a difference in the area of juvenile justice in Yemen.” He added, however, that external support will be ineffective without ownership by and coordination between Yemeni actors. “The fact that we are all here today shows a willingness to work together in that regard,” he said. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for coordination and implementation of the project, which will involve cooperation with all parties working with children in conflict with the law, including: Members of Parliament, central and local government authorities, families, schools, communities, training institutes, media, Imams, civil society and juvenile justice professionals (prosecutors, judges, lawyers, social workers, teachers, mental health professionals, police officers, institution staff and correctional officers), as well as children themselves. The overall objective of the project is to support juvenile justice and rule of law in Yemen, in line with European Union and international standards. Specific activities include: - Conducting an assessment of needed legislative amendments and measures – including the creation of family courts and protection of child victims and witnesses of crime – and advocating for their establishment. - Offering technical support to strengthen data collection and build institutional capacity in juvenile directorates. - Protecting and reintegrating children deprived of their liberty through such measures as establishing child protection police units, providing free legal assistance, developing a vocational training programme and supporting rehabilitation to communities and families. - Conducting awareness raising, social mobilization and communication for behaviour change, with youth participation. The project will be supervised and monitored by a high level Steering Committee, which will meet twice a year to monitor, follow-up and supervise the project implementation. A Technical Committee is responsible for the implementation of the project, under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Justice and members of UNICEF and the EU, as well as representatives of other ministries and from civil society.

Mid-Term Review of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2007 – 2011

UNITED NATIONS INFORMATIONCENTER - 12 February 2010 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that he is encouraged by news of a ceasefire agreement having been struck in northern Yemen, where 250,000 civilians have been uprooted since clashes in the country erupted in 2004. International concern has mounted about the situation in Yemen, where Government forces have been fighting Al Houthi rebels in the northwest and extremist groups such as Al-Qaida are considered to be active. The country is one of the poorest in its region and also faces a periodic influx of refugees from across the seas in the Horn of Africa. A Joint Government of Yemen and UN Country Team held a meeting to discuss the findings of a mid-term review of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2007 – 2011 at Mövenpick hotel, today. The meeting was co-chaired by the H.E Mr. Abdul Karim Ismail Al-Arhabi, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Ms. Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, in attendance were the representatives of the Parliament, Cabinet, Government and all the UN Agencies in Yemen. While the UN system is supporting both development and humanitarian needs in Yemen, the mid-term review focused on the UN system contribution towards development outcomes to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the first three operational years (2007- 2009) of the five year UNDAF. The UN System had committed US$ 274 Million for development support to Yemen, as per the mid -term review, in the past three years, the UN system allocated a total of $189 million or 69% of the 5-year commitment and successfully disbursed $151 million or 79.6 percent of the allocated resources. In addition, the UN System mobilized and disbursed nearly USD 65 Million to respond to the humanitarian needs of Refugees, IDPs and other civilians affected by war, flood and high food prices. Ms. Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said that: “The Midterm review is an opportunity to jointly take stock of the UN system contribution to Yemen and ensure continued relevance of UNDAF priorities to the current context of the country. The UN system will continue to work with all partners to help the country achieving MDGs by reducing poverty, malnutrition, diseases, all forms of inequalities, food insecurity and effect of climate change as well as in responding to the immediate life saving needs of people affected by various crisis”. Finally, it is important to highlight that the UN System in Yemen developed its United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2007 – 2011) in collaboration with the Government of Yemen, multi-lateral and bi-lateral partners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The aim of the UNDAF is to provide a collective and integrated UN System response to national priorities within the framework of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other international conventions using a human rights based approach and focuses on four broad outcome areas: (i) Democratic Governance (ii) Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; (iii) Population and Basic Social Services; and (iv) Pro-Poor Economic Growth that generates employment for the poor population. The United Nations Information Center (UNIC) was established in 1994 within the protocol of joint cooperation between the Republic of Yemen, represented by the Ministry of Information, and the UN. The Goal of establishing this center was to provide all informational and journalistic services circulated by the New York-bases Un Information Department. Of the main tasks of the center is the launch of international annual report. The center also translates press releases and distributes them to all media outlets in Yemen in order to by published in Yemeni newspapers especially statements by the UN Secretary General on hot and current issues. The center works together with the Yemeni government to celebrate world days and occasions as well as participating and cooperating in organizing different functions and workshops. The center is looking forward to achieving certain tasks in the short run such as inviting journalists on weekly or bimonthly basis to attend a press briefing at the center and be informed of the recent regional and international developments. In collaboration with the Ministry of Information, the center is planning to invite lecturers and thinkers to come to Yemen to give lectures and take part in symposia on different political and press issues such as Millennium Development Goals, human rights, refugee rights, AIDS etc. Throughout its 10-year history, the center has always been providing services and removing all obstacles from the way of journalists, pressmen, researchers university students, etc. by giving them access to the resources of the library specialized in the UN publications as well as the Internet Cafe. Many people from different social categories frequent the center seeking references and publications pertaining to the whole organization of the UN, General assembly and Security Council. The center's role is not limited to this aspect only. It supports journalists through scholarships, courses, conferences, and workshops held both in Yemen and abroad. Locally, the center provided journalists with training opportunities in English at both YALI and Sana'a university's Language Center Concerning external functions, the center did its best to support journalists and pressmen by enabling them to join courses organizing outside the country. The last of them was the opportunity given to a female journalist from Saba News Agency to take part in a course titled "peace Issues," which was held in People's Republic of China. Another example is the participation of a staff member of al-Thawra Daily in training course for Arab journalists in New York.

Secretary-General welcomes reported ceasefire in northern Yemen

UNITED NATIONS INFORMATIONCENTER - 12 February 2010 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that he is encouraged by news of a ceasefire agreement having been struck in northern Yemen, where 250,000 civilians have been uprooted since clashes in the country erupted in 2004. International concern has mounted about the situation in Yemen, where Government forces have been fighting Al Houthi rebels in the northwest and extremist groups such as Al-Qaida are considered to be active. The country is one of the poorest in its region and also faces a periodic influx of refugees from across the seas in the Horn of Africa. In a statement issued by his spokesperson today, Mr. Ban said that “he hopes that the ceasefire will hold and that it will provide an opportunity to fully resolve this conflict.” The number of people forced to flee their homes since fighting broke out in 2004 has more than doubled since just last August, and at least 170,000 refugees are currently sheltering in the country. In recent weeks, some 7,000 people have streamed into Hajjah province each week from Sa’ada province in the north. Last week, UN agencies warned that a lack of funding is hampering their efforts to assist the estimated 250,000 civilians uprooted by conflict in Yemen, with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) saying it has received less than three per cent of the needed cash. “We are facing a dramatic funding situation in Yemen and may be forced to scale down our operations for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) there if we do not receive fresh contributions very soon,” Melissa Fleming, UNHCR spokesperson, said. The Secretary-General today underscored that “the UN continues to call for full access for humanitarian assistance to be provided to the affected civilian population.” Late last month, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe told the High-Level Meeting on Yemen, held in London, that the world is ready to assist the impoverished Arab nation make progress on the humanitarian, developmental and economic fronts. “The many challenges faced by Yemen can only be addressed in a systemic and comprehensive way,” Mr. Pascoe said, stressing that the Government and its people must be at the centre of this approach. “But it is clear that the international community will need to support the Government’s efforts to tackle the underlying causes of the country’s difficulties. This support is fundamental in sustaining the country’s long-term stability and security, countering the terrorist threat, boosting its economy, meeting its development needs and fighting poverty.”