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