Republic of Yemen
Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference
Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference
Report on the Outcomes and Recommendations of the First Phase of
The Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference
Monday July 8, 2013
In a spirit of national responsibility and the utmost keenness to achieve success for the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and its outcomes, the Second Plenary convened its sessions during the period from the 8th of June – the 8th of July, 2013. All political and social constituencies represented in the Conference participated in the Plenary during which reports by the Working Groups were presented and reviewed, commented on, and enriched.
The Working Groups had convened for almost 70 days where they engaged in lengthy discussions characterized by a spirit of consensus that enabled them to produce positive outcome despite the existence of contrasting and conflicting views.
With this session, the Conference reached midway ending the diagnostic phase and launching the most important stage in the conference where the main guiding principles will be produced to lay the ground and features of a new Yemen.
The first phase was characterized by the fact that it provided an opportunity to build bridges of communications between participants from all political and social constituencies - males and females - thereby helping to bring closer the different views to serve the public interest.
During the working sessions of the working groups and the Second Plenary, more than 200 observers visited the Conference from inside the country and from abroad. More than 100 national and international experts presented experiences that benefited the participants in their presentations, discussions and the outcomes of their various working groups.
In fact, this phase was also characterized by effective community outreach and the positive messages exchanged between the Dialogue Conference and the general public through field visits and various modes of communications including: Direct contacts through civil society organizations, dialogue tents, dialogue ambassadors, the electronic website, social networking pages of the National Dialogue Conference and through all the media outlets.
Working groups presented their reports on field visits and all reflected the needs and views of the people and institutions met. They were all absorbed in the outcomes of the working groups in this stage and in the future stages. Most importantly, were matters related to the frequent power cuts as a result of the deliberate acts of sabotage, restoration of security and stability, curbing of signs of militarization and security breaches and to hold those responsible to account for their actions.
While affirming the need for strict implementation of the Conference’s Resolutions relevant to the implementation of the 20-points issued by the Technical Committee for the Preparation for the CNDC and the 11-points produced by the Working Group on the Southern Issue in the Conference for their impact on the success of the Conference and its future outcomes, we request H.E President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, President of the Republic to take quick actions for the implementation of required actions and issue instructions to relevant institutions to implement them through a clear mechanism with a clear timeline and to provide all needed resources in line with the provisions of the GCC Initiative.
The working groups noted the comments made in the Second Plenary on their reports and reached consensus on revised formulations of their recommendations and decisions. These have been reflected in this report with the view that they are to be adopted in the Plenary. It must be reaffirmed that the decisions and recommendations shall not conflict with whatever outcomes to be produced by the working groups on the Southern Issue, the Sa’adah Issue and State Building.
First: The Southern Issue:
The Working Group arrived at consensual conclusions on the roots and content of the Southern issue in its various political, legal, rights, economic, social and cultural dimensions (annex 1,2).
Second: The Sa’adah Issue Working Group:
The Working Group reached a consensual vision on the roots of the Sa’adah issue and its various dimensions (annex3).
The State Building Working Group:
Political constituencies presented their visions on State building (annex4).
The Rights and Freedoms Working Group:
1. Every citizen has a right to social security if unable to support self or family, as well as, in cases of inability to work, unemployment and old age to ensure sufficiency.
2. Every individual has the right to life and decent living. Deprivation, restrictions or detraction from such right is prohibited.
3. The State shall undertake the provisions of training and educational skills development programs for teachers.
4. The State shall ensure financial, administrative and academic independence of universities, research institutions and linguistic centers.
5. Private and national education is guaranteed at standards of control aligned with modern educational policies and the overall plans of the State.
6. The State shall be obligated to provide full oversight over Arabic, Islamic and social studies programs for all Yemeni students enrolled in foreign schools as compulsory subjects.
7. The State shall be obligated to pass legislations regulating the rights of persons with psychological disorders and the provision of healthcare and health services to them.
8. The State shall be obligated to provide indiscriminate emergency health services at times of war, emergencies and disasters.
9. The State shall guarantee a clean and safe environment and shall take every measure necessary to provide protection from the harmful impacts on the environment and society.
10. The State shall be obligated to the development of effective mothers and childcare policies
11. The State shall ensure protection of motherhood, childhood and old age and shall care for the young and youth by providing suitable conditions to develop their talents and capacities.
12. The constitutional provisions shall be clear, detailed and shall not be misconstrued.
13. Dignity is an inherent right of individuals. The State, through its three legislative, executive and judicial authorities, shall guarantee the respect and protection of this right and shall not be contravened or detracted from in any case.
14. Equal opportunity is a right guaranteed for all citizens. The State shall ensure that appropriate measures are taken to realize that.
15. Support for the National Documentation center, expansion and support of its branches in the Governorates within the framework of a clear priority-based vision.
16. The State shall adopt a national strategy based on internationally agreed upon standards for the preservation of all forms of popular heritage including handicrafts, provision of support and preservation from extinction, as well as protection of the popular Yemeni products economically in the face of competition by exported products and the promotion of tourism for such a product.
17. The State shall carry-out a scientific classification of the arts in line with known scientific standards to be integrated into university curriculums.(recommendations)
18. Revival of artistic culture be reinstating art education to the schools and shall include School Theater.
19. The State shall take the proper measure to achieve:
20. Expansion of youth participation across, social, economic, cultural and political development of the country.
21. Facilitate the entry of youth to culture, science, technology, arts, sports and entertainment activities together with providing the right conditions to unleash their creativity in all fields.
22. The State shall provide protection for all mothers and ensure social protection for her.
23. The State shall act in support of the family and protect motherhood and childhood.
24. The State guarantees a decent standard of living for IDP’s, a shelter, food and drinks, health and educational services.
25. Emigrants, during the period of emigration, shall enjoy the right to open leave without pay from their place of work in accordance with the civil service law, together with social security benefits provided for by laws in force in the country.
26. The capital investment of emigrants shall be given extra privileges and priority in qualification for investments in investment and industrial towns under government oversight.
27. The State shall use every mean to facilitate the transactions of emigrants in their place of emigration, follow-up on their rights, takes care of their interests, promote their investments and accord them protection.
28. The Government shall adopt all measures to enable Yemeni emigrants to exercise their electoral rights in places of emigrations.
29. The State guarantees equal protections and due care and not to discriminate on the basis of disability.
30. The State shall ensure the formulations of plans and adopts national policies to secure the rights of the marginalized to access decent housing and basic services and provide them with free healthcare, job opportunities, protection, social welfare and just litigation process to ensure the right to a decent life and protect their human dignity as an inherent right. It shall guarantee respect and protection by all States authorities as a mandatory duty.
31. Work is a right, duty and an honor for every citizen to develop society. Every citizen has the right to a job of choice within the bounds of the law and on the basis of equality, qualifications, justice and equal opportunities. It’s illegal to force any citizen to do any work.
32. The State guarantees the right of every worker to fair wage, holiday, retirement, social security and health insurance, provides protection from work hazards and provision of occupational safety conditions in the workplace.
33. The State shall fix a minimum wage to ensure a decent life for workers, employees and their families. The law shall also define the wages, salaries, pensions, compensations, assistant and bonuses to be paid by the State’s treasury.
34. Workers, employees and professionals have the right to organize unions, federations and cooperative associations by merely serving notice. These entities shall have legal personality and should be based on democratic foundations while exercising their activities independently and freely. It shall participate in serving society, improving the efficiency of its members and protect their rights. No authority is permitted to dissolve them or impose guardianship over them unless by a final court judgment.
35. Law shall regulate unions and professional activities, management on democratic basis, identification of their resource, ways and means of holding members accountable for their professional behavior according to code of conducts. It’s on that basis that a license to practice a profession shall be issued. Only one union is to be established to regulate any one profession. Authorities are not permitted to dissolve any administrative body of a union unless by court judgment.
36. The State shall ensure all fundamental bases for a decent and free life. It shall ensure sufficient income, appropriate housing and shall undertake the development of a national housing plan to be based on social equity. It shall promote self-initiatives, cooperative housing societies and regulate land use for architectural uses in a manner that would realize public interest and protects rights of future generations.
37. The State shall guarantee protection of human dignity by providing the minimum level of food, drinks, clothing, housing, education and health.
38. Free education is a right of every citizens guaranteed by the State.
39. The State shall undertake the provision of technical education and vocational training, development and promote enrollment on the basis of equal opportunities.
40. The State shall commit to the development of contemporary and modern curriculum fostering scientific development in all fields, in high quality and in a manner that meets the needs of development and the labor market.
41. Education shall be compulsory in the basic education stage.
42. Physical and psychological violence in educational institutions shall be prohibited and violators shall be prosecuted and punished.
43. The State shall be obligated to the development of literacy programs and plans with contributions from society to achieve this purpose.
44. Foreign schools are prohibited from performing any form of detraction from the States sovereignty, constitution or laws in all the subjects, events or activities or anything that would have a negative influence on the Yemeni student’s sense of belonging to and loyalty to their nation.
45. he State shall prohibit any medical practice outside licensed institutions and only for those who have qualifications in relevant medical specializations and licensed by competent agencies.
46. The State and medical unions shall be obligated to supervise and monitor health institutions, all health materials and products and health advertisement.
47. The import, use, reception of any substances or waste harmful to the environment and human beings shall be criminalized.
48. The State shall make it obligatory, on institution performing work or using substances harmful to the environment and human beings that cannot be substituted, to allocate a percentage of their income to contribute to the health budget and anti-pollution measures.
49. The State shall be obligated to establish branches of health institutes in the districts of governorates and give priority to health services in remote areas.
50. The State shall obligate health monitoring bodies and medical unions to hold accountable institutions and individuals for medical errors, but this doesn’t impact the right of the victim to resort to the judiciary.
51. Protection of rights for both females and males shall be based on the same basis for equality and, therefore, the term citizens or citizens shall connote feminine and masculine.
52. The constitution shall not include provisions that refer to the law, a matter which can lead to gaps to be exploited for restricting rights and freedoms and only within certain confines to be stated clearly in the constitution.
53. All special and extraordinary courts or, for that matter, any other body that would restrict the rights provided for in the constitutions shall be cancelled.
54. The preservation of the two Mahari and Socotran languages is a necessity. Actions to ensure that and to transform them into written languages using the Arab alphabet shall commence immediately together with the establishment of a unit to teach ancient Yemeni languages in the universities.
55. The general programs of local Radios in Mahara and Socotra broadcasting in Arabic shall contain folklore segments and programs (poetry and music) in both the Mahari and Socotran languages.
56. Antiquities are a sovereign national wealth and shall not be undermined in any part of the land of the nation. It shall be managed in sovereignty through the States authorities in cooperation with the local council and the residents of the area where such antiquities are located.