The first International Conference in Support of the Yemeni people finished its first meeting in the British capital today and concluded with a call to support the people of Yemen, and to stop the aggression and lift the siege being imposed upon the country.

The conference, held over two days, aimed to shed more light upon the injustices being endured by the Yemeni people, and to draw more attention to the grievous humanitarian and political situation that has been unfolding there – though largely ignored by Western media outlets. Of particular interest were the violations perpetrated against children, and the long term economic, humanitarian and social effects of the widespread destruction taking place as a results of Saudi Arabia’s war of aggression there.

Attended by politicians, economists, and jurists from Germany, France, Sweden, Belgium, Scotland, Canada, Iraq, Syria and Bahrain, the conference condemned the violations of human rights and international law that had become a daily occurrence in the Middle East’s poorest country.

Recommendations of the conference centered around two important points: the immediate cessation of the military aggression waged by the Saudi-led coalition, and the lifting of the blockade currently being illegally applied to the country. Furthermore, they stressed the need for the international community to set up an independent investigation of war crimes committed during the conflict.

During the conference papers were presented that highlighted the role of Saudi Arabia in inflaming sectarianism and extremism in Yemen, as well as their role in suppressing democracy there. Alongside this, there was a discussion of the destruction of the cultural heritage in the war-torn country. The role of Britain and the US in supporting the Saudi coalition by the sale of arms and with logistical support and military advice was also discussed there.

Five human rights organisations were involved in the conference: the ‘Stop the War Coalition’, ‘Human Rights of Yemen’, the ‘Organization of Sheba for Democracy and Human Rights’, the ‘Arab Organization for Monitoring Human Rights’, and ‘the International Campaign Against the Arms Trade’.

In parallel to this conference, the United Nations has called for the international community to respect the sovereignty and will of the Yemeni people, and to respect the newly formed parliament, which recently received a substantial show of support in a major mass rally in the capital of Sanaa.