Irada Org Meets the Permanent Mission of BELG to the UN in Geneva

On the sidelines of the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sheikh Gamal Muhsen Al-Maamari, Chief of Irada Organization against Torture and Enforced Disappearance, held a meeting with Mr. Gino Brunswijck, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Belgium to the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva.

The meeting featured an extensive discussion on the issue of abductees and forcibly disappeared persons in Houthis militia’s detention centers, as well as the international designation of Houthis militia as a global terrorist organization. The discussion also addressed the abduction of staff members of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), and other development programs, in addition to the other Houthis attacks targeting personnel of international missions and organizations.

Sheikh Al-Maamari highlighted the organization’s recent attainment of consultative status with the United Nations and outlined its ongoing efforts to defend the rights of abductees, expose the conditions of secret prisons, and document the violations and abuse suffered by the victims. He also explained the situation of the forcibly disappeared since 2014, and the Houthis’ continued victimization of the civilians.

Sheikh Al-Maamari, Known as the “Dean of Abductees and Detainees,” further addressed the current prospects for peace in Yemen, stressing that civilians continue to endure the realities of war rather than peace in light of the Houthis’ systematic terrorism. This includes recruitment of children, landmines planting, killing of civilians, worsening humanitarian and economic crisis and ongoing attempts to obstruct the work of humanitarian organizations despite their appropriation of international aid intended for civilians in their controlled areas.

For his part, Mr. Gino Brunswijck welcomed the efforts of civil society organizations, particularly the efforts of Irada Organization to address the abductees and victims issues in Yemen, despite the disability of the organization’s chief caused by the torture he endured in Houthis’ prisons. Mr. Gino also reaffirmed the international community, and Belgium’s in particular, condemnation of Houthi violations against civilians. He underscored Belgium’s and the European Union’s firm stance against enforced disappearance, child recruitment, and the use of landmines, noting that Belgium and the EU have provided assistance to Yemen in the fields of demining and combating child recruitment, in addition to other humanitarian and development projects. He added that new options are being considered to address the Houthi threat in light of recent developments.

The meeting also reviewed the activities of the Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (YCVVT).

The meeting was attended by the member of Human Rights Association Mr. Mohammed Mahdi, who addressed the intellectual aspects of Houthis militia, Chairwoman of Women for Peace Alliance in Yemen Ms. Noura Al-Jarwi, who highlighted the oppression, arbitrary arrests, and violence faced by women at the hands of Houthis militia, and Human Rights Association Coordinator Mr. Mohammed Ghaleb.

Issued by Irada Organization against Torture and Enforced Disappearance,

Monday, Sept 22, 2025 – United Nations HQ,Geneva, Switzerland