Geneva | 3 October 2026
Minister of Human Rights, Mashdal Mohammed Omar, briefed a delegation from the European Union Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, headed by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Mikel Cervone, on the latest developments in the human rights situation in Yemen, amid the recent escalation by the terrorist Houthi militias and increasing violations against civilians.
The Minister reviewed the impact of the escalation along the western coast and in Hodeidah, Taiz, Al-Dhalea, and Marib governorates, including attacks on civilian objects and the Port of Mocha, as well as the expansion of waves of displacement. He affirmed that the continuation of these attacks exacerbates the suffering of the population and increases humanitarian needs in the affected areas.
The meeting addressed the continued recruitment of children and campaigns of arrests, abductions, and enforced disappearances targeting activists and citizens in connection with celebrations of the national holiday of the September 26 Revolution. It also discussed the stalled implementation of prisoner and abductee exchange agreements based on the principle of “all for all,” as well as violations against United Nations personnel and staff of humanitarian organizations, including their continued detention and the referral of some of them to unlawful trials.
The Minister praised the European Union’s positions in support of the Yemeni government at the Human Rights Council, particularly its support for resolutions adopted under Item 10 concerning technical assistance and capacity-building. He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to strengthen the performance of national institutions and their efforts to protect human rights.
In this context, the meeting addressed the work of the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights, its role in monitoring, documentation, and field investigations, and the findings and recommendations presented in its periodic reports, while emphasizing the importance of continued support to enable it to carry out its mandate professionally and effectively.
For his part, Undersecretary of the Ministry, Nabil Abdulhafeedh, reviewed the progress made in the preparatory procedures for implementing the Ministry’s institutional support and capacity-building project, previously agreed upon with the European Union Mission. He noted that important steps had been completed in this process and expressed hope that implementation would begin in early 2027.
The two sides also discussed cooperation with civil society organizations and human rights defenders. The government delegation reviewed the role of the Ministry’s Advisory Body, which includes representatives of civil society organizations, and coordination with them in documenting violations and following up on cases of detainees and abductees.
The European side affirmed its continued support for the Yemeni government and the Yemeni people, its commitment to maintaining coordination with the Ministry of Human Rights and strengthening its partnership with the Ministry. It stressed the importance of cooperation with national institutions, civil society organizations, and human rights defenders in contributing to the protection of rights and freedoms.
The meeting was attended by Yahya Al-Rafiq, First Secretary at Yemen’s Permanent Mission in Geneva.
