During the implementation stages of Geneva Agreement, (141) , who were detained and abducted by houthies for periods varying between three to five years due to their political views and affiliations, had been released. Also, (2), who were abducted and detained by the legitimate government for a period of 2 to 3 years, had been released on Thursday, October 15, 2020 in the simultaneous swap between Sanaa and Seiyun. On Friday, October 16,2020, (40) ,who were abducted and detained by Houthi group for a period ranging between three and four years, were released in the coincided swap between Aden and Sana’a, from those documented by Abductees’ Mothers Association .
According to Abductees’ Mothers Association, (1270) civilians are still being abducted and disappeared by Houthi group, and (10) are still in detention by the legitimate government.
We, Abductees’ Mothers Association and the Women’s Network for Yemen, consider this a valuable achievement and a step towards the comprehensive and complete release of the abducted and detained civilians ; and value the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the feminist alliances, human rights activists, lawyers, and the media that raised the voice to demand the release of the abducted and detained civilians and championed their just cause.
At a time when hundreds of families lived with great joy, hundreds of families were living in pain and anxiety with the continued abduction and arrest of their children, especially women. Therefore, we call on the United Nations and the Security Council to the following:
– Oblige the war parties to release the abducted and arbitrarily detained women, immediately, unconditionally and without political or military bargaining.
-Separate the file of abducted and detained civilians from the file of captured combatants and release them without restrictions and conditions. Freedom is their inherent right, and there is no legal justification for their arrest and prolongation of their detention.
– Intensify pressure to show the forcibly disappeared and enable them to fulfill their full rights.
-To hold accountability for the perpetrators of the crime of abduction, detention, disappearance, and torture.
We also call on local and international civil society organizations to:
– Provide psychological support programs for those released.
– Make economic empowerment of those released, as most of them lost their jobs due to abduction and detention.
– Providing legal support for those released to recover their rights.