Dutch Ambassador to YT:”Yemen’s HR Minister is an active woman and aware of human rights principles” [Archives:2005/855/Reportage]
Interviewed by Imad al-Saqqaf
YT Taiz Bureau Chief
Human rights issues constitute a major concern and pose an insurmountable challenge, particularly in the third world countries including Yemen, a country where women are denied rights of political representation.
To unveil the facts of human rights situations in the developing countries and the factors hindering progress and prosperity of human rights in Yemen, the Yemen Times met HE Mr. Piet De Klerk, Ambassador of Netherlands to Yemen during his visit to Taiz and forwarded to him the following questions:
Q: What is the purpose of your visit to Yemen?
A: My visit to Yemen aims to allow us a chance to conduct discussions and deliberations with the governmental parties and the civil community organizations as well. Besides, we have the intention to listen to different facts about human rights and assess policies of both countries (Yemen and Netherlands) to see whether they have negative or positive attitudes toward human rights.
Q: How do you assess ties between the two countries (Yemen and Netherlands)?
A: Yemen and Holland have bilateral ties based on mutual cooperation, and the Government of Netherlands usually supports Yemen in different areas including education. During my visit, I saw precious efforts exerted for developing human rights in Yemen.
Q: Through your visit to Taiz Central Prison, how do you assess the situations of prisoners?
A: First of all, I found that the central prison is very crowded and the number of prisoners seems to be three-fold the capacity of the building. The available wards and cells can not accommodate the increasing numbers of prisoners. These situations necessitate increasing the numbers of wards and cells.
We discussed with some prison officials the situation of prisoners and they frankly mentioned all the problems and barriers hindering their attempts to improve prison conditions. They gave us information about judiciary and legislations, but we always say that the economic aspect is closely linked to the progress of humanity. It is impossible to respect human rights principles unless there is a well-developed economy of the country.
Q: The issue of human rights appears to be shared by the third world countries including Yemen; this issue developed in Yemen after the national unity and there is a constitution and effective laws, but what hampers their application and what is the reason behind weakness of civil community organizations?
A: I am very happy at the increasing awareness about human rights issue in Yemen and I think that human rights organizations, mainly the Human Rights Information & Training Center (HRITC) which played a positive role in this respect, have to do their best to ensure and protect human rights laws. Generally, the application of human rights laws in any country is still a complicated problem, and despite the fact Yemen enjoys effective human rights laws, their application is still a major challenge. This requires a discussion on how human rights laws can be applied in real-life situations.
Q: Concerning violations against women rights, Yemeni women seem to be denied their rights of political representation, as there is only one female minister in the current government. Additionally, women are deprived of economic empowerment, and there are several violations against the freedom of press, and many refugees from the Horn of Africa jailed without any charges. Have you discussed these subjects with Yemeni Human Rights Minister?
A: A single post for a female minister at the Yemeni government is very important and not a violation against human rights. The absence of women in political representation in Yemen is a matter set for discussion. Providing the protection for refugees was something agreed upon by the Parliament 15 years ago. Women from the Horn of Africa whom we cited in prison are not refugees but they have been residing in the country for a long time and the refugees' law is not applied on them.
Q: Woman in Yemen is exposed to other violations such as throwing a woman suspected of adultery in prison and releasing the adulterer. Is it possible to discuss this subject with Human Rights Minister?
A: I am sure the Yemeni Human Rights Minister is an active woman and aware of all the laws and legislations operating in her country. She is also aware of human rights principles. Accordingly her ministry works on eliminating discrimination between men and women, and therefore the concerned organizations should play an integral role in this respect.
Q: We have a human rights ministry, but it appears to be a term without any effective role. For instance there are several human rights issues that are dealt with by the media without any attention paid by the ministry. Does your government offer training for Yemeni journalists on human rights?
A: We have a cooperation program with Yemen and this program is available at the embassy. We discussed how experiences and aids could be offered in this respect, and at the embassy we have a department for complaints, which is ready to offer cooperation and deliberations at any time.
Q: Any final comment?
A: I have come to Taiz to listen to your words as well as to talk with one another. I have come never to be a substitute for the local authority or the governor because some of the issues you forwarded seem to be the prerogative of the local authority. Yemen is your country and it is you who should solve its problems and issues.
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[archive-e:855-v:13-y:2005-d:2005-06-30-p:report]
