CAT/C/YEM/CO/2 14. Internally displaced persons 19. The Committee is seriously concerned at the high number of internally displaced persons in the northern Sa’ada province, and at the fact that the State party has reportedly not taken sufficient steps to ensure the protection of persons affected by the conflict in the north, in particular the internally displaced persons currently confined to camps (arts. 12 and 16). The State party should take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of persons affected by the conflict in the northern Sa’ada province, particularly internally displaced persons currently confined to camps. 15 Human rights defenders, political activists, journalists and other individuals at risk 20. The Committee notes with concern allegations, including in conjunction with recent events in the region of Sa’ada, indicating that many Government opponents, including human rights defenders, political activists and journalists, have been subjected to arbitrary detention and arrest, incommunicado detentions lasting anything from several days to several months, denied access to lawyers and the possibility of challenging the legality of their detention before the courts. The Committee regrets the lack of information provided on any investigations into such allegations (arts. 2, 12 and 16). The State party should take all necessary steps to ensure that all persons, including those monitoring human rights, are protected from intimidation or violence as a result of their activities and exercise of human rights guarantees, to ensure the prompt, impartial and effective investigation of such acts, and to prosecute and punish perpetrators with penalties appropriate to the nature of those acts. The State party should provide information on any investigation into recent events in the region of Sa’ada, as well as the outcome of such investigations. 16. Imposition of the death penalty 21. The Committee is deeply concerned at reported cases of imposition of the death penalty on children of between 15 and 18 years of age. The Committee also expresses concern at the conditions of detention of convicted prisoners on death row, which may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in particular owing to the excessive length of time on death row. The Committee is further concerned at the lack of information in the State report on the number of persons executed in the reporting period and for which offences, as well as the number of persons currently on death row, disaggregated by sex, age, ethnicity and offence (art. 16). The Committee recommends that the State party consider ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty. In the meantime, the State party should review its policy with regard to the imposition of the death penalty, and in particular take the measures necessary to ensure that the death penalty is not imposed on children. Furthermore, the State party should ensure that its legislation provides for the possibility of the commutation of death sentences, especially where there have been delays in their implementation. The State party should ensure that all persons on death row are afforded the protection provided by the Convention and are treated humanely. The Committee requests the State party to provide information, in detail, on the precise number of people executed in the reporting period, for which offences and whether any children have been sentenced to death and executed. The State party should also indicate the current number of people on death row, disaggregated by sex, age, ethnicity and offence. 8 GE.09-46826