Statement by the Association Ma’oon the High Commissioner’s Remarks Concerning Yemen
The Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration (AMHRI) welcomes the statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the escalating fighting in Yemen and its devastating impact on civilians. The statement identifies the armed Ansar Allah group (the Houthis), the Government of Yemen and its affiliated forces as parties to the current hostilities. AMHRI notes that the Houthis receive support from Iran, while the Government and its affiliated forces receive support from Saudi Arabia. This understanding is consistent with the Association’s position that the conduct of all parties to the conflict, and the role of their external supporters, must be examined under the same human rights standards.
Although much of the fighting takes place within Yemen, the conflict has interconnected domestic and regional dimensions, shaped by external intervention, military support and cross-border operations. Yemenis bear the greatest cost in lives lost, insecurity and the denial of essential services. Investigations and accountability will therefore remain incomplete if they focus solely on those carrying out acts inside Yemen while overlooking external roles that evidence may link to specific violations.
AMHRI calls on the Member States of the Human Rights Council, during its sixty-third session in Geneva, to establish an independent and impartial United Nations investigative mechanism with a clear mandate to investigate alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Yemen; preserve evidence; protect witnesses and victims; and examine individual, institutional and any potential State responsibility. Its mandate should encompass the role of supporting States where evidence links their conduct to specific acts, with any determination of responsibility made in accordance with the applicable rules of evidence and attribution under international law. The mechanism should complement the work of Yemen’s National Commission of Inquiry while safeguarding the independence of both bodies.
The Association appeals to international human rights and humanitarian organizations to support this request and work together towards a Human Rights Council resolution that places Yemeni victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation at the heart of the Council’s response. AMHRI’s welcome for the High Commissioner’s statement is accompanied by a call on the Council to turn its concern for civilians into an independent UN investigation under agenda item 2 and meaningful accountability for all parties and any external supporters found responsible under international law.
Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration (AMHRI)
High Commissioner’s statement, 24 September 2026
https://www.reuters.com/ar/business/D62RNYMERNJFJI7THYJEZGD2TM-2026-09-24/
