UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki

14 May 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 14 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

First, the UK remains committed to restoring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea.

We welcome recent efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and we hope these efforts can help provide the pathway to sustainable peace in Yemen in line with the Special Envoy’s efforts.

As we have seen with continued threats against neighbouring countries and worrying posturing on the frontlines in Yemen, the risk of escalation remains.

Through a coordinated international approach, the UK will continue to work towards effectively containing Houthi capabilities.

Maritime security is essential in upholding stability in the region.

The UK continues to support the Yemen Coast Guard in protecting their maritime borders, and we look forward to launching the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership alongside the Government of Yemen and international partners in June.

Second, as highlighted by Ms El Mamoun, women face a disproportionate impact from the conflict in Yemen.

In 2023, Yemen ranked second-to-last in the Georgetown Institute’s Women, Peace and Security Index, and we have not seen progress since then.

According to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, most of the 4.8 million internally displaced people are women, and 6.2 million women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence.

Last year, UK funding supported nearly 1.5 million women and children with essential lifesaving services and enabled 15,000 to receive protection and gender-based violence response services.

The UK continues to champion the important role that women can play in both ending the conflict in Yemen and upholding sustainable peace.

In November 2024, the UK hosted a group of Yemeni women leaders and experts on the women, peace and security agenda to provide a vital platform for these important voices.

The UK also remains committed to supporting the UN Special Envoy’s work to meaningfully engage women activists and women-led organisations to deliver inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen.

Third, President, as USG Fletcher has said, the humanitarian situation is severe.

The UK continues to condemn the ongoing detentions of aid workers by the Houthis, and we reiterate our clear call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.

The Houthis’ unjustified detention of aid workers continues to shrink the humanitarian operating environment in a context where nearly 20 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

And finally, we are grateful for the efforts of Dr Ahmad bin Mubarak, the former Prime Minister of Yemen, and we welcome the new Prime Minister, Salem Bin Breik.

We look forward to working together with the new Prime Minister and continuing our support to the Government of Yemen’s ambitious reform programme.