In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
On the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Abductees’ Mothers Association, we mark ten years of unbroken pain and unextinguished hope. For a decade, mothers have stood on the front lines, carrying nothing but their voices, their children’s right to freedom, and their unwavering belief that justice must prevail.
On this occasion, we do not speak of one side over another, but of an ongoing humanitarian tragedy endured by our abducted sons across Yemen at the hands of all parties to the conflict, without exception. It is a daily suffering marked by enforced disappearance, torture, and the denial of the most basic human rights. On the other side stands the anguish of mothers who wait, their hearts suspended between hope and fear.
This association was born on April 18, 2016, at the gates of prisons, specifically, in front of the Criminal Investigation Prison on Al-Adl Street in Sana’a. There, with hearts filled with both fear and hope, the mothers issued their first statement, demanding the freedom of their sons. This was not merely an announcement; it was an act of defiance and the beginning of a path fraught with risk.
Since that day, our voice has never fallen silent, despite the repression and violations we have endured. We have faced arrest and threats. I myself was among those subjected to such abuses: I was detained twice and forced to leave Sana’a for Aden to ensure my safety. Yet distance did not weaken us; it strengthened our resolve. It did not silence our voice; it made it more present and more powerful.
From the heart of this pain, we raised our enduring slogan:
“My son’s freedom first.” This is not a passing phrase, but a sincere expression of a fundamental right, a just cause, and an ongoing struggle that will not cease until every abductee is returned to their family.
This association was born of suffering, yet it has not remained confined by it. It has evolved into an independent human rights voice, led by women who have courageously and peacefully assumed the responsibility of defending victims. Today, we represent not only mothers, but every victim, every family searching for the truth, and every person who believes in justice.
Over the past ten years, we have worked tirelessly to document violations, amplify victims’ voices, advocate for the release of abductees, and uncover the fate of the forcibly disappeared.
Our role has extended beyond advocacy to direct field engagement. We have supported abductees in places of detention by providing food, clothing, and medicine in an effort to ease part of their suffering. We have also provided legal assistance to defend their rights.
At the same time, we have stood by their families and children, offering psychological support and economic assistance to help them cope with the harsh absence of their primary breadwinners.
We have consistently followed up on release cases and engaged with local mediators and negotiation committees, providing accurate lists and data to ensure that the issue of abductees remains present across all negotiation tracks.
When abductees are released, our responsibility does not end, it enters a new phase. We refer them to healthcare facilities for examination and treatment, provide psychological support, and work on their rehabilitation and reintegration so they can rebuild their lives.
Through these sustained efforts, we have contributed to the release of more than 1,200 abductees. This achievement carries profound human stories, of mothers reunited with their sons and lives restored after nearly being lost. We believe that preserving memory is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is the true safeguard against the recurrence of such violations.
From this perspective, we express our aspiration for April 18 to be officially recognized as the Day of the Abductees, a day that commemorates victims’ suffering, restores their dignity, and reminds the world of its moral and humanitarian responsibility toward this cause.
Our partners in the international community, the continuation of this humanitarian and human rights work requires genuine partnerships that strengthen our efforts in documentation, psychological support, economic empowerment, and reparations. Your support is not merely support for an organization; it is a stand for humanity, solidarity with victims, and an investment in justice.
On this day, we renew our commitment- we will remain faithful to this cause and steadfast on this path until every abductee returns, justice is achieved, and the hearts of mothers are healed.
We will not stop…
until our sons return,
until the suffering is lifted,
and until justice is done for all victims.
Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.