RANIA ABDULLAH

Yemen_The file of abductees and forcibly disappeared persons in Yemen is receiving increasing attention from human rights organizations, with growing testimonies revealing the torture and ill-treatment endured by detatinees, amid ongoing demands for disclosure of their fate, ensuring justice, and ending impunity.

The Abductees’ Mothers Association organized a hearing session yesterday, Thursday, June 25, in the city of Taiz in southwestern Yemen, for a number of survivors of detention centers as part of the humanitarian advocacy campaign “No to Torture…Justice Is the Right of Victims, coinciding with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.”

During the session, survivors presented painful testimonies about their exposure to torture, enforced disappearance, and ill-treatment insine detention centers, affirming that these violations left deep psychological and humanitarian effects on them and their families.

The Abductees' Mothers Association affirmed that the session aims to keep the issue of abduction and enforced disappearance alive in public consciousness, and to affirm that these violations do not expire with time. The Association demanded the prosecution of those responsible, the disclosure of the fate of the forcibly disappeared, and the unconditional release of all abductees.

In a statement to our agency during the session, Asma Al-Ra'i, Director General of the Abductees' Mothers Association, said: "Our primary goal today is to keep the issue of abduction and enforced disappearance alive in the conscience of society and international organizations, and to tell the whole world clearly that this issue and the violations inflicted on our sons do not expire with time."

Regarding the Association's main demands, she called for the immediate and unconditional release of all abductees, and the urgent disclosure of the locations of the forcibly disappeared, stressing the need to bring those responsible for these violations and crimes to fair and transparent trials, and to ensure compensation for the victims.

She concluded by focusing on the post-release phase, saying: "The suffering does not end with our sons' release. Therefore, we demand fair trials that guarantee compensation for those released, and the provision of necessary support for their reintegration into society to help them overcome the effects of this harsh experience."

1,332 Abductees Tortured

During the event, the Association announced documented statistics showing that 1,332 abductees have been subjected to torture inside prisons, while 88 others have died under torture and harsh practices in detention centers.

For her part, Aisha Al-Adaini, a member of the Association, said that the campaign "No to Torture... Justice Is the Right of Victims" comes to advocate for justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for violations, affirming the need for the unconditional release of all abductees, the separation of the abductees' file from military files, and the guarantee of compensation for those affected.

The Abductees' Mothers Association renewed its affirmation of continuing its efforts in advocating for victims and conveying their voices to local and international forums, calling for the realization of justice and legal accountability and ensuring that perpetrators of violations do not escape punishment.