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Yemen: Details regarding the structure of security forces, including the Central Security Organization, in Yemen; their role and to whom they report; treatment of human rights or women's groups

Yemen's primary state security force is the Political Security Organization (PSO) (Country Reports 2000 Feb. 2001, introduction). The PSO is an independent agency that reports directly to the President (ibid), and reportedly operates outside of any judicial control or supervision (AI 7 July 1999; HRW Dec. 2000). Another Yemeni security force is the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the police (Country Reports 2000 Feb. 2001). This body reports to the Ministry of Interior and its responsibilities include criminal investigations and arrests (ibid). The Central Security Organization (CSO) is also a part of the Ministry of the Interior and maintains a paramilitary force (ibid). Despite having committed numerous human rights abuses, members of the security forces are not held accountable for cases of abuse and no security officials were tried or convicted of abuse during 2000 (ibid).

Included among groups said to be frequently targeted for arrest or intimidation by security forces are journalists, opposition political leaders (HWR Dec. 1999; AI 7 July 1999) and religious scholars (ibid.). Reportedly, PSO agents have in past years infiltrated, and in many instances forced the closure of, independent press agencies and civic organizations (HRW Dec. 2000). According to Human Rights Watch World Report 2000, international human rights organizations were permitted to visit Yemen and local human rights groups "functioned within the country" (Dec. 1999) The report noted, however, that "the freedom of local monitors was impaired by the restrictions on freedom of expression and a climate of intimidation surrounding criticism of government policy" (ibid).

In May 2001, the Yemeni Ministry of Information reportedly banned the first issue of a human rights monthly for violating Yemeni press law, with no further explanation given (RSF 25 Apr. 2001; BBC 24 Apr. 2001). The monthly, whose first edition was removed from news-stands, is published by Mohammed Naji Alaw, a member of parliament who also belongs to the human rights organization Institution of Human Rights Activists (RSF 25 Apr. 2001; BBC 24 Apr. 2001).

A professor of political science at the University of Guelph whose area of expertise includes women in the Middle East, including Yemen, was not aware of any overt policy - either official or unofficial - of harassment of women by the Yemeni security forces (20 Sept. 2001). To her understanding women and men received the same treatment by the Yemeni government authorities and security forces (ibid.).

In its publication entitled Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen 1997, the Yemen Human Rights Guard reported that women have been subjected to intimidation and even rape as part of a campaign to ensure that women are accompanied by a male relative in public (13 May 1998). In many instances, members of the security and armed forces were the perpetrators (ibid).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. 7 July 1999. Yemen: Empty Promises: Government Commitments and the State of Human Rights in Yemen. (AI Index: MDE 31/04/99) London: Amnesty International

BBC. 24 April 2001. "Human Rights Publication Banned in Yemen." <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/nesid_1295000/125452.stm> [Accessed 20 Sept. 2001]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. February 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/eur/index.cfm?docid=826> [Accessed 19 Sept. 2001]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). December 2000. Human Rights Watch World Report 2001. <http://www.hrw.org/wr2k/mideast/yemen.html> [Accessed 18 Sept. 2001]

_____. December 1999. Human Rights Watch World Report 2000. <http://www.hrw.org/wr2k/Mena-11.htm> [Accessed 19 Sept. 2001]

Professor of Political Science, University of Guelph. Guelph. 20 September 2001. Correspondence.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF). 25 April 2001. "A Human Rights Newspaper Banned." <http://www.rsf.fr/uk/html/mo/cplp01/1p01/250401.html> [Accessed 19 Sept. 2001]

Yemen Human Rights Guard (YHRG). 1998. Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen 1997.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International reports

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Jane's Intelligence Review

Jane's International Police Review

Middle East

Middle East Report

Resource Centre. Country File

Yemen Human Rights Guard. Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen, 1998 and 1999

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

BBC

CNN

Dawn

Derechos

European Country of Origin Information Network

Federation of American Scientists

Human Rights Internet

Human Rights Watch

UN Commission on Human Rights

United Nations Crime and Justice Information Network

UN News

World News Connection

Yemen Daily

Yemen Gateway

Yemen Times

Search engines:

Google

Lycospro

Rediff

Topics: Security forces, Human rights, Womens rights,