Barran Press
On Saturday, August 31, 2024, a protest organized by the Association of Mothers of Abductees in Al Hudaydah highlighted the ongoing plight of those abducted in Yemen. Activists urged all parties, including international mediators and the UN envoy to Yemen, to intensify efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and alleviate the suffering of the detainees.
The demonstration condemned the persistent violations against abductees and those arbitrarily detained across various prisons controlled by different factions over the years. Participants emphasized that the deteriorating conditions in these facilities exacerbate the already dire situation for detainees and their families.
The protestors called for the immediate release of 549 abducted individuals, 199 forcibly disappeared, and 31 arbitrarily detained persons held in facilities run by the Houthi movement, the Southern Transitional Council, and the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The ongoing detentions have compounded the suffering of their families, who endure harsh and unbearable living conditions.
Additionally, the protest appealed to the international community and human rights organizations to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities by advocating for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, particularly those in poor health.
"We will continue our relentless pursuit for our children's rights, with freedom and their safe return to their families at the forefront of our demands," the organizers stated, emphasizing the urgent need for a final resolution to the issue of abduction.
On August 30, activists and civil society organizations in Yemen commemorated the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed annually since the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2006.
In a related statement, 60 human rights organizations called on international sponsors of peace talks in Yemen to prioritize the issue of enforced disappearances as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis that has persisted for nearly a decade.
According to a report by Amnesty International and other organizations in 2023, conflicting parties in Yemen were responsible for 1,168 cases of enforced disappearance between 2014 and early 2023. The Houthi movement accounted for 596 cases, followed by the Southern Transitional Council with 349, and the internationally recognized Yemeni government with 223 cases. Additionally, the Saudi-led coalition was linked to 38 cases, while other local forces were implicated in several others.
In July, the ninth round of negotiations concerning prisoners and abductees concluded in Muscat, Oman, without significant progress on the matter.