Mr Romig expressed his gratitude to members of the Yemeni government, the representatives of human rights organisations, and journalists who contributed to the success of the visit, most importantly for providing Alkarama with information regarding the human rights conditions in the country, particularly in regards to torture cases, arbitrary detentions, extra judicial killings, crack downs on press freedoms, the banning of peaceful gatherings, and other human right violations.

The purpose of the visit, which took place between the 25 and 29 December 2011, was to closely examine the human rights situation in Yemen and to carry out a number of field interviews. This research is part of the preparation for the shadow report which Alkarama will present to the UN Human Rights Committee next march in the context of the regular review of Yemen's implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Alkarama met representatives and activists of Yemeni human rights organisations, including the National Organisation for Defending Rights and Freedoms "Hood", the Arab Sisters Forum, and other organisations. The delegation also met the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr Mohammad Sadi, and the Deputy Minister for Human Rights, Dr Ali Saleh Tayseer. The meetings aimed to present the work of Alkarama to the officials and to discuss the situation in Yemen.

Towards the end of the visit, Alkarama, in cooperation with its local partner Hood, organised a consultation with a selection of journalists and members of the Yemeni Journalists Union. The meeting discussed the situation with regards to press freedoms in Yemen, and the serious dangers that the media workers face in this country as a result of the brutal repression which they face, especially during their coverage of peaceful protests.

The meeting took place in the Sheba hotel in central Sanaa on 28 December 2011. Mr Romig talked about the potential for the contributions of journalists to enrich the discussion around the review the Yemen report by the United Nations in New York next March. Mr Abdel Rahman Barman, a lawyer from Hood, urged the journalists to present suggestions to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding freedom of the press, regarding the punishment of those who violate the rights of journalists, and to set up further legal guarantees to protect freedom of the press and media workers. He indicated that the last chance to present such proposals and observations is one month prior to the date of the review before the UN committee.