NCIAVHR Holds Hearings with Torture Survivors on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Aden | June 26, 2025

To mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed each year on June 26, the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) held a series of individual and group hearings today with victims who were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities.

The sessions, led by Commission members Judge Nasser Al-Awdhali and Judge Eshraq Al-Maqtari, allowed victims to share their experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Survivors described the physical and psychological abuse they endured, including beatings with electric cables and wooden sticks, electrocution, suspension, strangulation, threats, intimidation, and extended solitary confinement—all carried out in unlawful detention conditions that fall far short of national and international standards.

Many spoke of prolonged detention in various prisons, where they were subjected to systematic torture—some cases resulting in death due to severe abuse and denial of medical care. Survivors called for justice, redress, and public acknowledgment of their harm, citing their rights under Yemeni law and international human rights treaties.

On this occasion, the NCIAVHR reaffirmed its commitment to investigating these grave violations, which have worsened during the ongoing armed conflict in Yemen. The Commission called for an immediate end to all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, particularly against detainees, forcibly disappeared persons, displaced individuals, and others affected by the conflict.

The Commission also urged the judiciary to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure they are not granted impunity. It further stressed the importance of supporting comprehensive rehabilitation programs—covering psychological, medical, social, and economic aspects—for victims and their families, with the backing of state institutions, international organizations, and the global community.