Geneva | October 21, 2026
Minister of Human Rights Mashdal Mohammed met in Geneva with Dr. Mohammed Al-Nsour, Chief of the Middle East and North Africa Section at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), to discuss the latest developments in the human rights situation in Yemen, the humanitarian consequences of the escalation by the terrorist Houthi militias, and ways to strengthen technical support and capacity-building for the Ministry and the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights.
The Minister reviewed the waves of forced displacement resulting from the militias’ attacks, which have affected more than a quarter of a million people, and the shortages of shelter and basic services faced by displaced families, particularly in camps in Aden and Lahj. He warned of the consequences of the renewed siege of Taiz and the cutting off of supply routes, which restrict access to food, medicine, and fuel and threaten the continued operation of hospitals and vital facilities.
The Minister called on OHCHR and the United Nations to take a clear stance condemning the violations committed by the terrorist Houthi militias and identifying their responsibility for them. He emphasized the need for UN statements and positions to reflect the gravity of these violations and their impact on civilians, and to be accompanied by effective action to protect civilians, end the siege, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
He also addressed the continued recruitment of children, the alteration of school curricula to serve mobilization and incitement purposes, casualties caused by landmines, and the exploitation of migrants and their involvement in combat. He further stressed the need to intensify efforts to secure the immediate and unconditional release of United Nations and humanitarian organization personnel abducted and held by the militias, and to end violations against humanitarian workers.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Nabil Abdulhafeedh emphasized the importance of clear international positions in identifying responsibility for violations, warning that the absence of firm positions encourages the militias to continue their crimes, which have also targeted United Nations personnel and premises. He stressed the need for action to protect civilians and activists in Taiz from any violations or acts of retaliation.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Al-Nsour welcomed the Yemeni delegation and commended the existing coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights through the OHCHR office in Aden. He affirmed that OHCHR is closely following developments in Taiz and recognizes the seriousness of their humanitarian consequences, noting that the Office is considering issuing an urgent statement reflecting the situation in the city.
The meeting was attended by Yahya Al-Rafeeq, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Yemen to the United Nations in Geneva and Human Rights Focal Point.
