NCIAVHR launches its ninth periodic report

Aden

Thursday 09 September 2021

The National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations to Human Rights (NCIAVHR) launched its ninth periodic report on its work in monitoring, documenting and investigating human rights violations in Yemen during the period from August 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021.

NCIAVHR’s periodic report reviewed (40) types of violations, most notably the bombing of Aden International Airport, the burning incident of the African refugee detention center in Sana’a, and women’s issues.

NCIAVHR affirms its keenness, since the beginning of its work, and in accordance with the Republican decision establishing it, to follow various mechanisms to ensure the quality of investigation processes, which aim to establish the facts and identify those responsible, in accordance with the national and international laws applicable to each incident, and in a manner that ensures accountability for the perpetrators of violations and compensations for the victims.

NCIAVHR notes that, to this end, it carried out a number of investigation-related activities, most notably field visits to governorates and regions that witness incidents of human rights violations, including the districts of Mokha, Al Khawkha and Hays in the governorates of Taiz and Hodeidah, and in the governorates of Shabwa, Marib, and Seiyun Hadramout, during which many public and secret hearings were carried out for the victims.

The report revealed that, during the period covered by the report, NCIAVHR was able to monitor and document (3,624) violations incidents, which victims from all parties, without exception, were subjected to in all Yemeni governorates. The total number of victims who fell because of it reached (4,642) victims.

The report indicated that (10,872) witnesses, whistleblowers and victims were heard, (15,920) documents reviewed, and hundreds of photos and videos were reviewed and analyzed.

The ninth periodic report of monitoring and investigation documented (869) incidents of killing and wounding civilians, in which (1,293) victims killed. The total number of civilian deaths reached 435, including 63 children and 43 women, while the total number of wounded reached 858 civilians, including 179 children and 90 women.

The report said that 235 deaths and 714 injuries were attributed to the Houthi group, while 151 people were killed and 123 wounded as a result of the Arab coalition air strikes and government hostilities, while the participating parties bear responsibility for 14 dead and 17 wounded.

In its report, NCIAVHR monitored 130 individual cases of planting mines, resulting in 61 deaths, including 11 children and 8 women, and 89 wounded, including 17 children and 6 women. According to the report, this type of violation is solely attributed to the Houthi group.

In this context, NCIAVHR monitored 132 allegations of child recruitment, the responsibility of which lies with the Houthi group in 123 cases, while the government and its affiliates are responsible in 9 cases.

The report documented 32 alleged incidents of assault and damage to cultural and historical objects, the responsibility of the Houthi group was proven in 28 cases, and the joint responsibility of the government forces and the Arab coalition aviation was proven for (two cases), and the joint responsibility between the government forces and the Houthi group for (two cases).

During the period covered by the report, NCIAVHR was able to monitor and investigate 13 allegations of targeting of medical personnel and health facilities. The responsibility of the Houthi group was established for (11) cases, and the joint responsibility of government forces and the Arab coalition aviation was proven for (two cases).

The results of international human rights law investigations showed that 76 alleged cases of extrajudicial killing were monitored, 42 cases were proven to be the responsibility of the Houthi group, and 6 cases were proven to be the responsibility of the army forces and the security agencies affiliated with the government, and the investigation is still ongoing in the rest of the other incidents.

The ninth report revealed the monitoring and documentation of (1,219) cases of allegations of arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance, the responsibility of the Houthi group was proven for (1031) cases, and the responsibility of the government forces and its security agencies for 188 cases.

NCIAVHR’s report also monitored 86 cases of allegations of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, of which the Houthi group was proven responsible for 76 cases, and 10 cases in which the responsibility of the army forces and government security agencies was proven.

The report monitored 40 cases of alleged house bombings. The Houthi group is solely attributed to in this type of violation. During the same period, NCIAVHR documented one violation in Shabwa governorate of US drones, in which one child was killed.

The report provided general recommendations for all parties to the conflict, and made a number of specific recommendations for the Houthi group, the leadership of the Arab coalition, the Yemeni government, and the international community.