Yemen: giving peace a chance debated by Lords

27 March 2019

On Monday 1 April the House of Lords debates the International Relations Committee's short report, Yemen: giving peace a chance

The International Relations Committee believes that the Government is narrowly on the wrong side of international humanitarian law on arm sales to Saudi Arabia given the volume and type of arms being exported to the Saudi -led coalition, they are highly likely to be the cause of significant civilian casualties in Yemen. Therefore, the Committee has called upon the Government to:

Give much higher priority to resolving - not just mitigating the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Condemn any further violations of International humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition and be prepared to suspend some key export licences to members of the coalition. Relying on assurance by Saudi-Arabia and Saudi-led review processes is not an adequate way of implementing the obligations for a risk based assessment set out in the Arms Trade Treaty.
Be more willing to use its role as a penholder at the UN Security Council to intervene if peace talks are not progressing and if blockages arise.
Redouble its diplomatic efforts with all external actors - particularly the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran - to keep them committed to the Hodeidah ceasefire, and its extension to Sanaa and elsewhere in Yemen.

Speakers in the debate

Lord Howell of Guildford, Chair of the International Relations Committee, will open the debate on Yemen: giving peace a chance.

Other Members of the House of Lords who are due to speak in the debate can be viewed on the Speakers' Lists.

Further Information

Image: House of Lords 2019 / Photography by Roger Harris