On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, the Abductees’ Mothers Association, within its “Save the Abductees” campaign, held an online symposium titled “The Right to Appear… Appeals for the Forcibly Disappeared.” More than 40 participants joined, including survivors, families of abductees, human rights defenders, and journalists.
Executive Director Mahfoutha Ahmed opened the event with a session on “Enforced Disappearance in Yemen – A Painful Reality and Shocking Numbers.” She noted that since 2014, conflict parties have used enforced disappearance as a weapon to silence dissent and spread fear. The Association has documented:
- 1,691 cases by the Houthis, with 155 still disappeared,
- 130 cases by Security Belt Forces, with 63 still disappeared,
- 40 cases by the internationally recognized government, with 7 still disappeared,
- 18 cases by West Coast Forces, with 12 still disappeared.
She stressed that the persistence of this crime is tied to impunity and the absence of accountability.
In a second session, Dr. Ammar Al-Bukhaiti highlighted the political and legal dimensions of enforced disappearance, describing it as not only a legal violation but also a grave political and moral crime that undermines human values and peace. He called for a comprehensive approach, legal, moral, and political, to confront the crime.
Journalist Hisham Tarmoum emphasized the role of media and civil society in breaking the silence, mobilizing public opinion, and pressuring authorities to act. He also praised advocacy campaigns that amplify the voices of victims and their families on international platforms, mobilizing global opinion to press for real breakthroughs in the abductees’ file.
Participants called on all parties to urgently disclose the fate of the disappeared and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all abductees.
