Press Release: NCIAVHR Works During February 2023

In fulfillment of the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) with its obligations towards those interested in the human rights file in Yemen and informing them of the latest developments in its work related to reaching victims, documenting, and investigating violations committed by all parties, it continues to present its work progress through monthly press releases.

During February 2023, the Commission completed the documentation and investigation of (158) violations committed at different times related to international humanitarian law and human rights law, including (23) incidents of killing and wounding civilians, in which (25) victims were killed or wounded, including a child and (5) women in different governorates.

The Commission also finished documenting the deaths of (3) civilians injured in the explosion of anti-personnel mines, and (48) incidents of arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance in the governorates of Lahj, Taiz, Al-Baydha, Amanat Al-Asimah, Shabwa, Al-Mahwit, and Hajjah, in addition to (4) incidents of extrajudicial killing.
During that, the Commission investigated the exposure of (112) families to forced displacement, (3) attacks on schools and medical facilities, and (59) attacks on public and private property.

Within the framework of the field investigation, the Commission’s members and monitors carried out a field visit to the city of Mukalla in the Hadramout governorate, during which several meetings were held with the local authority and leaders of the security and military agencies, and an investigation into the incident of the bombing of Al-Dhaba port, which affected Yemen economically and security. However, the Commission did not find the required cooperation from the management of the Petro Msila company.

The Commission’s team also went to the towns of Al-Akaisha, Al-Sharaf, Al- Dhaba, Al-Huraybah, and Al-Qabilah in Al-Silw district, south of Taiz governorate, and investigated (82) violations, including forced displacement, destruction of homes, killing, and injury among civilians in more than (3) villages, and the deprivation of over (3,000) male and female students from education.

The field visits program included visits to the areas (Wadi Harib, Al-Malihah, Al-Jabalin, and Al-Thalatheen Street) in the districts of Al-Taziyah and Sabir Al-Mawadim, and a field investigation of (70) violations, most of which resulted from the explosion of mines that killed and injured civilians.

In the context of monitoring and evaluating the status of detainees’ rights and fair trial guarantees, members and teams of the Commission carried out sporadic visits to each of the central prisons in the cities of Taiz and Mukalla, and other detention centers, in which officials were met and a number of incidents investigated by the Commission were discussed.

The legal and humanitarian conditions of (1,680) prisoners and detainees were reviewed, and memos were written for the competent authorities regarding the implementation of urgent remedies to improve the environment in prisons and detention centers.

Regarding civil society, the Commission held an extensive meeting with (30) civil society organizations and institutions working in the field of human rights in Hadramout governorate, in addition to individual meetings with representatives of local and international civil society organizations working in the promotion and protection of human rights, in the governorates of Aden, Taiz, and Marib, in which field information on some violations was exchanged, and a number of victims of sniping and shelling were referred to centers and organizations working in the health and psychological aspects.

On the occasion of the production of this press release, the Commission calls on all parties to cease all acts of violence against persons and attacks on property and to respect the freedoms of all citizens without any discrimination.

Published by:
National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR)
Aden | Wednesday, March 1, 2023