NCIAVHR Listens to Victims of Human Rights Violations in Ataq and Beihan, Shabwah

Shabwah | June 28, 2025

As part of its ongoing fieldwork, the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) held direct listening sessions with victims of human rights violations in the districts of Ataq and Beihan in Shabwah Governorate.

During the sessions, Commission member Judge Dr. Dhiya Muharriz heard testimonies from 37 victims in Beihan and 42 victims and eyewitnesses in Ataq. The accounts revealed a wide range of grave violations affecting victims’ physical and mental well-being, and infringing on basic rights including the right to life, freedom of movement, access to work, food, and healthcare.

The reported abuses included torture, arbitrary detention, landmine use, home demolitions, airstrikes, and deliberate targeting of civilians. Victims shared the lasting physical and psychological trauma they and their families continue to endure, and voiced clear demands for justice, accountability, and reparations.

In conjunction with the hearings, the Commission’s team visited displacement camps in both districts—specifically Al-Shurkha, Al-Wusta, and Al-Muzallal camps—where they documented violations that had forced residents to flee their homes. The team also observed the difficult humanitarian conditions that displaced families face, amid limited resources and significant challenges in camp management.

These sessions and visits are part of the Commission’s core investigative approach, which centers on documenting violations through direct victim engagement. Firsthand testimony plays a vital role in establishing facts, identifying perpetrators, and laying the groundwork for justice and accountability.