Following the detention of six of UN Human Rights staff – among 13 UN personnel detained – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urges the Houthi rebels in Sanaa, Yemen, to immediately and unconditionally release them, as well as other individuals detained in relation to their affiliation with the UN, international NGOs or other actors supporting humanitarian activities.
In his comments Volker Türk said “These latest detentions come in addition to two other UN Human Rights staff who were already detained, one of whom has been detained since August 2023, and the other since November 2021. Both of them have been held incommunicado, without any due process. UNESCO also had two personnel detained prior to the latest detentions.
Volker Türk added “Two of the UN personnel detained last week, and at least one from a civil society organization are women.”
Volker Türk categorically rejects what he called “the outrageous allegations” against UN Human Rights staff, and expressed his “deep worry” about the conditions in which they are being held.
Volker Türk said “The UN Human Rights Office has been working in Yemen since 2012, for the promotion and protection of the rights of all the people of Yemen, including through engagement with the de facto authorities.” Adding that “Any further targeting of human rights and humanitarian workers in Yemen must cease immediately.”