Final Statement
The International Conference for Peace and Development in Yemen was held in Salzburg, Austria, on April 10–11. The conference took place under the theme “Peace in Yemen: From Conflict Management to Crisis Resolution.”
The event was hosted by the Austrian side. It was organized by the Yemen Initiative for Peace and Development. In addition, it was held in partnership with the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue.
Prominent Yemeni political figures attended the conference. Participants came from inside Yemen and abroad. Experts and researchers also joined the discussions.
Conference Discussions
During the conference, participants held dialogue sessions and specialized workshops. These sessions focused on political, development, and humanitarian issues.
Moreover, participants discussed practical solutions for achieving peace in Yemen. As a result, the conference produced several outcomes and recommendations.
These recommendations will be issued in a separate document titled “Salzburg Conference Document for Peace and Development in Yemen.”
Final Recommendations
At the conclusion of the conference, participants emphasized the following:
- Calling on the international community, especially the United Nations, to resume its role in the peace process. This includes restoring state institutions and moving toward conflict resolution.
- Affirming that the Yemeni constitution and the three references remain the basis for any political solution. These include the Gulf Initiative, international resolutions, and the National Dialogue outcomes.
- Emphasizing the importance of launching a comprehensive national dialogue after restoring the state. In addition, the conference welcomed the Southern-Southern dialogue in Riyadh.
- Calling on regional and international actors to increase humanitarian and development support.
- Issuing laws to criminalize racism and hate speech. Furthermore, establishing a national body to combat hate and discrimination.
- Appreciating friendly and supporting countries that assist Yemen in humanitarian and development efforts.
- Upholding Yemen’s sovereignty and constitutional legitimacy. Also, preserving the legal status of the state.
- Emphasizing that the state must control all weapons. Therefore, all military and security forces should operate under national institutions.
- Supporting governance, rule of law, and institutional reform. This will help achieve economic recovery and improve living conditions.
- Activating legislative and oversight institutions in Yemen.
- Strengthening the role of women and youth. In addition, ensuring their participation in decision-making.
- Calling on the government to improve essential services. These include health, education, water, and electricity.
- Calling for the immediate release of detainees, abductees, and forcibly disappeared individuals.
- Criminalizing the manipulation of education curricula. This includes preventing hate speech and protecting national identity.
- Providing support for families of martyrs, wounded individuals, detainees, and displaced persons.
- Accelerating the removal of war remnants. This includes landmines and unexploded ordnance.
