Abductees Mothers Association following Geneva Agreement demanding immediate implementation and releasing all abductees and forcibly disappeared persons

With optimism and appreciation, Abductees’ Mothers Association received the news of Geneva Agreement signing, yesterday, which stated releasing many abductees and detainees as a first step.

We, mothers, live in a joy anticipating the release of some of our sons. Yet, we also feel the despair of the abductees whose detention period will be prolonged, as Stockholm Agreement has been broken down to different phases, and the case of abducted civilians has been integrated with the war prisoners’.

We thank whoever participating in releasing our sons, including local and international mediators and activists, who has made our sons’ case a priority in their efforts. We, also, appreciate the bravery, resilience, and patience of abductees’ mothers and wives, whose spirit was not discouraged by the long detention period.

At Abductees Mothers Association, we remind everyone that such agreements are no more than dead letters if we do not get to hold our sons and see them every day like other mothers around the world. Thus, we call upon the international community to continue pressuring Yemeni parties to immediately implement today’s agreement and Stockholm Agreement by releasing all abductees and forcibly disappeared persons.

Also, we emphasize on the following;

1. Freedom is an inherent right for all abductees, detainees, and forcibly disappeared persons, granted by all laws and conventions.
2. The importance of distinguishing abducted civilians from war prisoners, and disentangling abducted and arbitrarily detained civilians from political and military point scoring.
3. Abductees have the right of full compensation.
4. Perpetrators of abductions and torture are to be brought to justice.
5. Providing the needed mental and psychological support for released abductees.
6. Allowing the necessary margin of freedom for competent organizations to observe the implementation of the agreements.
May all abductees and arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared persons be free, and may mothers’ hearts find peace.

Issued by Abductees’ Mothers Association
September 28th, 2020