Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentleman,

GENEVA (6 December 2011) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday deplored the killing of unarmed civilians by shooting and shelling in Yemen since last week, in a renewed escalation of violence despite pledges by the Government to the contrary.

“Unarmed civilians, including very young children, have been shot and left dead or with serious injuries,” Pillay said. “It is appalling and extremely disappointing that despite the successive deals and ceasefires, Government security forces continue to use live ammunition against unarmed protestors.”

GENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Thursday urged the Government and opposition groups in Yemen to embark upon a genuine and comprehensive dialogue to prevent further violence in the country, in the aftermath of days of escalating violence and bloodshed.

“Yemen is at a very sensitive and dangerous crossroads and the Government and opposition will need to tread carefully, with the support of the international community, to bring it through this phase and into a lasting peace, with respect for the human rights of its people,” Pillay said.

GENEVA (24 June 2011) – The UN human rights office is set to deploy a delegation on Monday to Yemen for a 10-day mission to assess the human rights situation in the country in light of recent events.

Geneva, 30 May 2011

Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Human Rights Council, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Excerpted from the regular press briefing by the Information Service, UN Office at Geneva

Middle East

Rupert Colville of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the Office had been receiving reports of an escalation in the human rights violations in a number of countries in the Middle East, where the governments appeared to be continuing to deal with protests through increased repression and use of lethal force, rather than through dialogue, negotiation and real reforms.

Syria

GENEVA (18 September 2009) -- The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Friday she is deeply disturbed by eyewitness reports of a 16 September air attack by Yemeni warplanes against a makeshift camp, that killed dozens of people displaced by fighting between the government and Al Houthi rebels, and urged the government to launch an investigation and take immediate action to avoid a repetition.

"It was the second deadly air-strike resulting in civilian deaths in the space of three days," Pillay said.