Houthis Committed Over 10,000 Violations of Yemeni Women’s Rights

22nd October 2024

2 minutes read

Houthis Committed Over 10,000 Violations of Yemeni Women's Rights

A human rights organization has revealed that the Houthi militia has committed more than 10,000 violations of women’s rights in Yemen since their coup against the Yemeni state on September 21, 2016, up until March 1 of this year.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documented 10,156 violations committed by the militia against women in Yemen. Among these violations, 2,786 women were killed and 4,369 were injured by artillery shelling, landmine and IED explosions, as well as sniper fire and random live bullets shot into residential areas.

The Network explained that the Houthi militias have kidnapped and tortured 447 women, of whom 69 were taken to secret prisons and subjected to enforced disappearances. Among the detained, 78 women were tortured in the Houthis‘ secret and public prisons, facing fabricated charges tarnishing their honor, in addition to being exploited for sexual purposes.

According to the statement, Taiz Province topped the list with 1,802 crimes, followed by Al-Hodeidah Province with 419, then Aden with 158, Lahij with 142, and 282 crimes in the provinces of Marib and Al-Jawf equally. The remaining crimes were distributed across the provinces of Dhale, Abyan, Al-Bayda, Ibb, the capital’s governorate, Al-Mahwit, Dhamar, Raymah, Shabwah, Saada, Sanaa, and Amran.

The Network also indicated that its team is continuing to investigate the deaths of 1,274 Yemeni women caused by landmine explosions planted by Houthi militias in streets, markets, main roads, residential areas, farmlands, and grazing areas.

Additionally, it noted that 46 murders of women were committed by Houthi militias in nine provinces, involving stabbings, vehicular run-overs by military vehicles, or fatal beatings.

The Yemeni Network called on the international community, the United Nations, its Secretary-General, and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to urgently intervene and confront these crimes, pressuring the militia to stop targeting civilians in Taiz. The Network also requested a transparent and immediate investigation into all human rights violations, and for those responsible to be held accountable politically, legally, and criminally, in accordance with international conventions and agreements, as well as the rules of international humanitarian law.

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms emphasized the international community’s legal and moral responsibility to protect civilians under the United Nations’ documents and the Geneva Conventions. It also stressed the need to punish the perpetrators of these crimes and bring them to justice, either through local or international courts.

Press reports also indicate the use of women and girls as combatants or in supporting roles for the war effort under a faction called the Zainabiyat, who have been involved in luring numerous women and activists before abducting them, where they are subjected to various forms of systematic torture.