On the Security Council, the UK is responsible for action on Yemen. The UK also has close bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. If Britain built support for a new Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire, the UK could use its influence with Saudi Arabia to help make it happen. If enough MPs push for this, the Government will have to listen.
This is not a 'slacktivism' campaign - we're looking for meaningful responses from people that care about UK foreign policy. Please read UNA-UK's key asks below and consider which of the three routes you would be willing to use to contact your MP. There is a form at the bottom for you to let us know what you've done. Please forward this page to friends and family.
Key asks - what to include
- Security Council action for ceasefire and peace process with no preconditions - As Council lead on Yemen, the UK should urgently table a new resolution calling for all parties to the Yemen conflict to immediately implement a ceasefire and enter into peace talks without preconditions
- Bilateral efforts with Saudi Arabia for peace - UK should use its close relationship with Saudi Arabia to urge them to support a ceasefire, enter into peace talks without preconditions and refrain from any actions which may restrict humanitarian or commercial supplies to Yemen
- Suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia - The UK should not be arming any of the parties to this conflict, all of whom are responsible for “widespread violations of IHL” according to the UN. The UK should immediately suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia and push for an independent international inquiry into violations by all parties to the conflict.
Write to your MP
- Find out who your MP is by typing your postcode in at www.theyworkforyou.com
- Find their contact details MPs at www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
- Get personal. Write a letter/email to your MP in your own words as this shows the strength of feeling you have about the issue. Using some of the stats from our humanitarian briefing may help you write a powerful letter.
- Please consider incorporating the key asks mentioned above - these action points will help your MP to take the issue forward with Government.
- Ask your MP to take action on your behalf in the following three ways: (1) by her/him writing a letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (2) by her/him speaking to the Secretary of State in person (3) by her/him raising your concerns as oral and written questions in parliament.
- Don't forget to introduce yourself and include your full name and postal address in your correspondence.
- Ask your MP to keep in regular contact and to give you copies of any responses they receive.
- Once you've sent your letter/email, please let UNA-UK know and share this webpage with your networks
- Please forward any replies you receive to info@una.org.uk
Meet your MP
- Find out who your MP is by typing your postcode in at www.theyworkforyou.com
- Find their profile page by clicking on their listing via www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
- Either browse their personal website and hunt for their next drop-in surgery, or phone their constituency office using the number on the profile page/personal website to ask for an appointment.
- In preparation for your meeting: read UNA-UK's humanitarian briefing and write down UNA-UK's key asks (above)
- During the meeting: introduce yourself, be respectful and polite, explain why the issue matters to you, and talk through UNA-UK's key asks for reference.
- Ask your MP to take action on your behalf (1) by her/him writing a letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (2) by her/him speaking to the Secretary of State in person (3) by her/him raising your concerns as oral and written questions in parliament.
- Ask your MP to keep in regular contact and to give you copies of any responses they receive.
- Once you've had your meeting, please let UNA-UK know tell your friends on social media
- Please fill out this form to let us know how you got on
Hold an event
Events can be an effective way to influence your MP, but only if they are action oriented and if your MP knows about them! The best way to do this is to either get your MP to attend your event in person or by getting attendees to sign a petition based on UNA-UK's key asks (or both!). Events come in all shapes and sizes; it could be an informal film night in your sitting room with friends (if so, check out these film suggestions!) or a large-scale event at your hall. The following tips may be helpful:
Consider inviting your MP
- Find out who your MP is by typing your postcode in at www.theyworkforyou.com
- Find their contact details MPs at www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
- Phone up their constituency office and ask when they might be free to attend an event on Yemen (having possible dates and venues ready could help convince their team that you are serious). If you cannot find a mutually convenient date, consider holding the event regardless but make sure you to prepare a petition for attendees to sign so that you can relay it to your MP afterwards
Planning
- Decide on a title and theme – for example, ‘Yemen can't wait’ or ‘Britain’s role in the Yemen conflict’.
- Consider partners – working with youth groups, faith groups or branches of NGOs such as Amnesty, Oxfam and Friends of the Earth could bring your event to many more people.
- Book a venue – factors to consider include: cost, location, capacity and disability access. A public address system and roving microphones may also be helpful.
- Select a chairperson – the chairperson ensuring speakers respect time limits and focus on the questions asked.
- Don’t go empty-handed – make sure you have plenty of UNA-UK supporter cards to ensure you can stay in touch with attendees (contact Hayley Lashmar lashmar@una.org.uk for these).
- An attendance list on which people can give their name and email address could also help you find out who in your community is interested in events like this. Please share these with UNA-UK following the event so that we can keep them up to date with our work.
- Get some help – it can be useful to have a couple of stewards on standby during the meeting to offer any assistance required, such as passing around microphones.
Content
- Do you know someone with experience of living or working in Yemen? If so, consider asking them to speak at the event as they may be able to give a compelling personal account of the conflict.
- Otherwise, why not read UNA-UK's resources and write a short presentation on the issue, before moving into a group discussion.
- Before you finish make sure you get all willing attendees to sign a petition for you to send to your local MP. UNA-UK has provided a template petition for you to use/adapt.
Publicity
- Aim to publicise the meeting as widely and as early as possible to ensure the highest possible attendance.
- Create flyers – hand these out in your town or city during busy periods.
- Contact your local media – get in touch with local newspapers and radio stations, giving them a short and snappy explanation of the event. Be sure to mention names of confirmed candidates and include contact details, should they require further information.
- Use social media – set up a Facebook event and invite all your contacts, providing regular updates on the event page to ensure maximum visibility.
- List your event on UNA-UK’s website – submit your event for inclusion on UNA-UK’s events calendar.
- Make posters and flyers in advance, and draw up a list of all the public places where details of the hustings can be advertised.
- In your correspondence with invitees you might like to ask them to publicise it themselves.
There is a lot more guidance on publicising local UNA events on our dedicated webpage, www.una.org.uk/local.
Follow-up
- Send your petition to your local MP or contact her/his constituency office to organise a handover in person
- Make sure you take some good pictures of your event, featuring the various candidates who attended, and share them on social media, with your local newspaper and send them to info@una.org.uk
- Share the outcomes and experience of the event with the rest of the world by submitting a members’ news article (www.una.org.uk/add-branch-news)