U.S. SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANAA 000178 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM ELAB PGOV PREL KDEM YM MEPI DEMOCRATIC REFORM HUMAN RIGHTS SUBJECT: U.S. SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REPORT 2004-05 REF: SECSTATE 267453 ¶1. (U) Paragraph 2 contains Post's input for the 2004-05 edition of Supporting Human Rights and Democracy as requested in reftel. Post's input conists of updates of the 2004 report of on-going as well as new programs. Submission will also be sent via e-mail as a tracked changes document. ¶2. (U) Begin Text The 2004-2005 U.S. human rights and democracy strategy for Yemen addresses the need for the Government to strengthen its human rights record, continue to enact social reforms, improve the administration of justice, increase the strength of civil society, give women a greater voice in their government, and further the process of democratic development. The United States continued several long-term projects addressing these issues, including programs aimed at expanding Yemen,s political parties, improving election administration, increasing voter participation, strengthening civil society and improving the country,s human rights record. During 2004, there was a marked increase in limits on freedom of speech and of the press. Security forces continued to arbitrarily arrest, detain, and torture persons. The Government in many cases failed to hold members of the security forces accountable for abuses, although the number of security officials tried for abuses increased for a second consecutive year. Prison conditions remained poor, although the Government took some steps to alleviate the situation. Despite constitutional constraints, security officers routinely monitored citizens' activities, searched their homes, detained citizens for questioning and mistreated detainees. Prolonged pretrial detention, judicial corruption and executive interference undermined due process. The Government at times limited freedom of assembly, imposed some restrictions on freedom of religion and placed some limits on freedom of movement. Violence and discrimination against women remained problems. Female genital mutilation was practiced on a limited scale. There was some discrimination against persons with disabilities and against religious, racial and ethnic minorities. The Government imposed restrictions on labor unions. Child labor remained a problem. Yemen is a republic with an active bicameral legislature. An elected President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, an elected 301-seat House of Representatives and an appointed 111-member Shura Council shared Constitutional power. In Fiscal Year 2004, the United States provided $1.1 million in International Military Education and Training assistance for the Yemeni military, part of which addresses awareness of international norms of human rights and fosters greater respect for the principle of civilian control of the military and the rule of law. The program had 25 participants in Fiscal Year 2004. In compliance with the Leahy amendment, U.S. officials work closely with the Ministries of Defense and Interior to vet units for U.S. training. The Defense Department Counter-Terrorism Fellowship funds a training program for Yemeni military officers on the importance of respecting human rights. The project is available to Ministry of Interior and Defense civilians and security forces. The project has been highly successful and is on-going. This program trained one participant in 2004 and anticipates two participants in FY 2005. To achieve the necessary reform in rule of law, human rights and political freedom, the United States more actively engaged non-governmental organizations in 2004 in the hope of galvanizing civil society organizations to take a lead in reform of their country,s political and social institutions. The USG also encourages the Government directly to strengthen its human rights record and enact social reforms, tackle corruption, and further the process of democratic development. In Yemen, the judicial system coexists with traditional means of dispute resolution, such as tribal mediation. Where the court system is involved, there are numerous problems including excessive executive branch tampering, corruption, inefficency of court administration, lack of access for women to the court system, and the failure of authorities to enforce rulings. The government has taken some preliminary steps to improve the situation. In December 2004, the government announced an overhaul of the judiciary in order to counter judicial corruption. The Minister of Justice is introducing a ten-year reform project to promote a more efficient judiciary. In January 2005, an American Bar Association delegation, in conjunction with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI),visited Yemen for two weeks to conduct an extensive assessment of Yemen,s judiciary in order to initiate programming to galvanize reform in Rule of Law and Women and the law issues in Yemen. The Embassy supported various NGO projects in 2004. One project teaches children about participation in government and has proven very successful in raising democratic awareness. Another project aims to raise capacity of local NGOs and community groups in a rural, underdeveloped governorate to allow for economic development. Several projects aimed to improve women,s rights. Yemeni women have traditionally been politically and socially marginalized, with limited political representation in parliament or local councils despite high voter participation, restricted access to healthcare and education, as well as widespread reports of domestic abuse, and some instances of female genital mutilation. Under a USDA program, the Embassy established a project to build and furnish new primary schools for girls in isolated, rural areas to broaden girls, access to modern education and to facilitate their inclusion within society. The United States has been urging the Government to enact social reforms, encourage respect for human rights and foster democratic development at the highest levels. For example, National Security Council officials raised democracy and human rights with the Foreign Minister in February 2004. The Ambassador and other senior-level officials engage frequently with the Ministry of Human Rights to improve the Government's ability and willingness to redress specific human rights abuses. U.S. officials have raised the issue of corruption at the highest levels, particularly as it relates to qualification for the Millennium Challenge Account. The United States continued several long-term National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) projects aimed at strengthening Yemen,s political parties, improving election administration, increasing voter participation, fostering civil society and improving the country,s human rights records. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reopened its offices in Yemen in 2003. The USAID program focuses on strengthening democratic institutions among other areas. In 2004, the Embassy increased programming designed to strengthen democratic institutions, decentralize authority and resource management, and expand opportunities for civil society in decision-making. In 2005, USAID anticipates expanding its programming in election assistance, anticorruption, and strengthening NGO support and capacity. The Middle East Partnership Initiative, MEPI, the Administration,s primary mechanism to support a forward strategy for freedom in the Middle East, is currently working with Yemen on a variety of programs including legislative strengthening and civic education. For example, a $2 million MEPI-funded program aims to address the 67 percent illiteracy rate among women and girls. MEPI is also continuing its work on election assistance in Yemen. In addition, both government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Yemen have participated in numerous MEPI regional programs. In 2004, MEPI and USAID began funding for two programs to support democracy and human rights in Yemen. The Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions program is designed to strengthen core skills of Parliamentarians including constituent outreach and executive oversight functions. The program also anticipates the establishment of a parliamentary resource center to provide information to allow for more responsive legislation. The US contribution to the Parliament program is $800,000 over two years. USAID and MEPI are also contributing funds toward the United Nations Development Program to Support Decentralization and Local Development in Yemen. This $1.6 million two year program will improve the capacity of local councils and work at the central level to promote decentralization. In February, 2004 nine Yemeni women attended the Regional Women's Campaign Initiative, a MEPI regional program, to encourage women's political party participation. NDI Yemen is also working with women under the MEPI "Democratic Strengthening" grant to encourage appropriate legal reform and to ensure women's full participation in government. In 2004, the International Visitor (IV) Programs adminstered through the US Embassy's Public Diplomacy office, brought 22 NGO activists, government officials and other leaders to the United States to gain skills and knowledge in such areas as NGO management, youth leadership, women,s leadership in the political process, rule of law and judicial reform, and government accountability. Comprehensive reform in human rights and democratic development is a choice that ultimately lies with Yemenis. The US embassy will continue to work with willing actors in political parties, civil society and the government to foster respect for human rights, freedom of speech, equality and rule of law in a country with great potential. (End Text) ¶3. (U) Addendum: Programs that support literacy and/or renovation of educational facilities are also considered to be human rights projects because they concentrate on women and girls (as mandated by USAID) and help alleviate poverty and promote equality and democracy. ¶1. Support for Reform Minded Yemeni Parliamentarians $800K (MEPI) ¶2. Support to UNDP Local Council Program $1.59 mil ($1.2 mil MEPI and $390K USAID ESF funding) ¶3. Yemen Adult Life Skills program for literacy $2 mil (MEPI) ¶4. Renovation of Schools and Educational facilities $33.3 mil (USDA) ¶5. Renovation of School in Saada $200K (DoD) ¶6. Rehabilitation and construction of schools and teacher training/ literacy among women and girls $10 mil (USAID) Krajeski