The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) has released its 2025 Annual Report under the title “White Hands in a Time of Abandonment,” a comprehensive human rights analytical document that reviews a year marked by grave violations and places the humanitarian reality in Yemen under the scrutiny of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
The 45-page report, supported by documented evidence, reveals a concerning escalation in patterns of systematic violations, most notably arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture leading to death. The report documented 4,785 cases of arbitrary detention out of a total of 6,417 detainees during the year. The Houthi militia accounted for 75% of these cases, followed by formations affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (18%), while government entities and other actors were responsible for the remaining 7%.
The report also recorded 341 cases of enforced disappearance, 82% of which were carried out by Houthi forces. In addition, 24 detainees died under torture or as a result of deliberate medical neglect—incidents that amount to serious crimes not subject to statutes of limitation and that require individual criminal accountability.
Violations were not confined to detention facilities. The report also exposes a systematic pattern of house demolitions and forced displacement, as well as the targeting of children through the recruitment and indoctrination of minors. More than 370,000 children were reportedly enrolled in sectarian mobilization courses, while 38,000 children were recruited into active combat roles. These acts constitute a flagrant violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, posing a serious threat to social peace and the future of generations.
In parallel, the Center continued to fulfill its humanitarian role by implementing relief and rehabilitation programs exceeding 100 million Yemeni rials in total value. These included over 25 million rials in direct cash assistance and more than 75 million rials in in-kind and medical support, such as the provision of wheelchairs, food baskets, healthcare services, and psychological support.
The Center also engaged in extensive international advocacy, conducting 28 meetings and participating in 15 external events, through which it presented victims’ cases before international platforms, reaffirming that justice knows no borders.
The report concludes with a grim picture reflecting the continuation and escalation of systematic human rights violations in Yemen, particularly torture, enforced disappearance, and arbitrary detention outside the rule of law. The Houthi militia bears primary responsibility for these violations, followed by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council. These abuses have left deep psychological and social scars on victims and their families amid the absence of a safe environment and a severe shortage of specialized rehabilitation and support services.
The report further reveals serious shortcomings in accountability and legal protection mechanisms at both the national and international levels. This failure has contributed to the entrenchment of a culture of impunity, deepened public frustration, and undermined prospects for social peace and transitional justice. In contrast, civil society organizations, particularly the Yemeni Center (Will and Hope), have played a crucial role in filling the gap left by weakened state institutions through systematic documentation, medical and psychological rehabilitation, and continuous legal advocacy.
Accordingly, the Center stresses that achieving justice for victims and preventing the recurrence of such tragedies requires a serious national process to strengthen the rule of law. This process must begin with the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, the closure of illegal detention facilities, and the urgent cessation of child recruitment.
The report also emphasizes the need to activate international investigation and accountability mechanisms alongside national efforts, while institutionalizing comprehensive support systems for victims and safeguarding human dignity, which must never be subject to compromise.
Regarding solutions and recommendations, the report calls for the launch of a comprehensive national process aimed at institutionalizing victim support and resolving the issue of enforced disappearance through binding legal frameworks. It also stresses the importance of strengthening the rule of law and ensuring accountability for all perpetrators of violations.
Furthermore, the Center calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities by empowering specialized human rights organizations, placing victims’ issues at the forefront of the United Nations agenda, and providing tangible support for international litigation efforts and sustainable rehabilitation programs.
At the societal level, the report highlights the importance of strengthening broad advocacy alliances and launching national solidarity initiatives to support affected families and assist survivors in reintegrating into society with dignity and security.
To read the full report, please visit:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19-EzLrB0h1O40LtSgkkI5f8SFxVAbNHi/view?usp=drivesdk
Issued by:
The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope)
Republic of Yemen
