Yemeni Center Meets European Activists in Geneva to Discuss Human Rights Crisis

Yemeni Center Meets European Activists in Geneva to Discuss Human Rights Crisis

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – On the sidelines of the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (YCVVT) and the Will and Hope Organization held a high-level meeting with a group of European human rights activists. The discussions focused on the findings of a comprehensive human rights report released on September 29, 2025.

Severe Violations and Torture in Detention

During the meeting, the YCVVT delegation provided an in-depth briefing on the deteriorating conditions of abductees and prisoners in Houthi-controlled detention centers. They highlighted the systematic and grave violations of human rights occurring within these facilities. Furthermore, the Center addressed the ongoing targeting of United Nations personnel, specifically condemning Houthi attempts to defame staff from the OHCHR, World Food Programme (WFP), and UNDP. This included a report on the Houthi seizure of WFP warehouses in Saada Governorate.

Trafficking, Smuggling, and Regional Instability

The meeting expanded to cover the broader implications of militia activities, including:

• Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration: The exploitation of migration routes to undermine regional security.

• Narcotics Smuggling: Systematic efforts to flood neighboring countries with illicit drugs.

• Abuse of African Migrants: Horrific violations against migrants, ranging from extrajudicial killings and forced recruitment to financial extortion and systemic racial discrimination.

Call for Accountability

The session concluded with a joint call to action, emphasizing the imperative of strengthening international cooperation to protect human rights in Yemen. Both parties underscored that achieving lasting peace is contingent upon accountability and ending the culture of impunity, ensuring that those responsible for these violations are brought to justice.

Issued by: The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (YCVVT) Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Geneva, Switzerland