Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
More than 20 international organizations called on Tuesday for the immediate release of United Nations personnel by the Houthi group.
In a joint statement, the organizations stressed the need to release the eight UN staff members who were arbitrarily arrested between January 23 and 25, 2025, in addition to dozens of UN staff members and members of Yemeni and international organizations arbitrarily detained since June 2024.
The statement said the latest wave of arrests is part of an ongoing campaign by the Houthis against human rights and humanitarian workers, which intensified last year. On May 31, 2024, the Houthis carried out a series of raids over two weeks in the areas under their control, resulting in the arrest of 13 UN staff members and at least 50 employees of Yemeni and international civil organizations.
It added that so far, only three have been released (a UN staff member and two from organizations), while the rest remain in detention without being allowed to communicate with a lawyer or their families, and without any charges being brought against them.
On January 24, 2025, a statement issued by the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen confirmed the arrest of UN staff, including staff from the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the arrests, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees.
According to the organizations, the Houthis’ actions continue a disturbing pattern of repression of civil society in Yemen, and a violent targeting of human rights and humanitarian workers, on fabricated charges of “espionage.” In August 2024, the Houthi-affiliated “Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation” renewed the Houthis’ restrictive policies on humanitarian activities, during five-day meetings with UN staff and international NGOs, warning the Houthis of the dangers of “espionage” that could be exploited in humanitarian work.
The statement indicates that the signatory organizations call on the international community, especially those states that are in contact with the Houthis, to do everything in their power to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained, including human rights and humanitarian workers.
The signatory organizations:
The World Alliance for Citizen Participation
The Yemeni Alliance for Monitoring Human Rights Violations – Monitoring Alliance
Justice Charter Coalition for Yemen
The Association of Mothers of Abductees
The International Federation for Human Rights
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights
The Centre for Strategic Studies to Support Women and Children
The Global Centre for the Responsibility of Protection
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
The Civil Center for Support and Advocacy
Nema’a Center for Humanitarian Media
The Monitoring Center for Rights and Development
Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies
The Electronic Organization for Humanitarian Media
Amnesty International
The Monitoring Organization for Rights and Freedoms
Sam Rights and Freedoms Organization
The Accountability Organization for Human Rights
The Defense Foundation for Rights and Freedoms
Dameer Foundation for Rights and Freedoms
Qana Foundation for Media and Rights
Yemen Future Foundation for Cultural and Media Development
PASS Foundation for Peace for Sustainable Communities
Human Rights Watch
