The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – Statement
Eradah Organization to Combat Torture and Forced Disappearance. Thursday, June 26, marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, an annual occasion observed worldwide to commemorate the day the United Nations Convention against Torture, which entered into force on June 26, 1987. This convention aims to prevent torture, ensure accountability for its perpetrators, and protect the inherent dignity and fundamental rights of all individuals. On this occasion, Eradah Organization to Combat Torture and Forced Disappearance strongly condemns and denounces all forms of torture and grave violations committed against civilians and detainees in Yemeni prisons, foremost among them those perpetrated by Houthi militia through brutal practices that flagrantly violate human dignity. These methods include:
* Beating and physical and psychological torture.
* Burning with fire and electric shocks.
* Hanging and deprivation of sleep.
* Use of sharp and dangerous instrument.
* Deprivation of food, water, sunlight, and ventilation.
* Psychological destruction, extraction of teeth and limbs.
* Denial of communication with family and denial of medical care.
These practices have led to the deaths of hundreds of detainees, while many others have been permanently disabled. Among them is the detainee Abdullah Ash-Shanfi, who suffered severe torture that resulted in quadriplegia and loss of sensory perception. Detainees Jamal Al-Maamari and Anas As-Sarari also endured systematic torture that left them partially paralyzed, along with dozens of other detainees who sustained similar injuries in the secret detention centers run by Houthi militia, particularly in the National and Political Security centers in Sana’a (Security and Intelligence Service).
Eradah Organization expresses deep concern over the situation of abducted United Nations staff and civil society workers held at the National Security detention facility in Shamlan area, northwest of Sana’a, and the ongoing suffering of detained human rights defenders and journalists. Many of them remain under arbitrary detention, while others are subjected to enforced disappearance, enduring the harshest forms of inhumane treatment in Houthi-run detention centers, including women and children
Through ongoing monitoring, documentation and follow-up throughout the year, the organization has documented systematic and brutal acts of torture in several secret detention centers located in Houthi-controlled areas, most notably in Sana’a, Sa’dah, Taiz, and Al-Bayda. In these detentions, detainees are subjected to torture that often leads to death, and Houthi militia has carried out executions inside prison cells using various means from time to time.
Eradah Organization expresses profound regret over the continued torture of Yemeni women in Houthi prisons, which is a clear violation of Yemeni Constitution, national customs and traditions, and flagrant disregard for human dignity and women’s rights. Among the documented victims are Fatima Al-Arouli, Entisar Al-Hammadi, Asmaa Al-Omaysi, and Iman Al-Basheeri.
Torture is a crime against humanity that is not subject to a statute of limitations. The prevailing policy of impunity remains one of the key factors contributing to the continuation of these heinous crimes. Accordingly, we call for the following:
1. Immediate cessation of all acts of torture and inhumane treatment against civilians and detainees.
2. Immediate and unconditional release of all abductees and forcibly disappeared persons, particularly humanitarian and human rights workers.
3. Accountability and prosecution of all those responsible for acts of torture and enforced disappearance in Yemen.
4. Put an end to impunity, as accountability is essential to ensuring justice and deterrence.
5. Inclusion of the issue of torture victims as a top priority in any future peace negotiations, and ensuring that justice and accountability form an integral part of any political settlement.
6. We call upon the United Nations and the Security Council to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities toward the detainees and abductees, and to take urgent and concrete measures to protect them and uphold their rights.
We, Eradah Organization to Combat Torture and Forced Disappearance, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to standing against all forms of torture and violations. We stand in solidarity with all victims and survivors and call on the international community to unite and work diligently to end these atrocious practices in Yemen and around the world.
Issued by:
Eradah Organization to Combat Torture and Forced Disappearance. June 26, 2025 – Republic of Yemen
