American Justice: Houthis’ storming of OHCHR office in Sana’a calls for strong international stance

The American Center for Justice ( ACJ ) considered the Houthi militia’s storming of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana’a, and its looting of documents, assets and property, a flagrant violation of international law that calls for a strong international response, calling on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all detained employees, evacuate the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana’a, and return all confiscated assets and property.

The center said in a statement published on Sunday: "The Houthi group continues to violate the protection rules established for the work of international humanitarian and UN institutions, the latest of which was the storming of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, on August 3."

The American confirmed to Justice that “the forcible seizure of the office’s documents and property represents a flagrant violation of international law and a direct assault on the United Nations’ ability to carry out its mandate to protect and promote human rights in Yemen.”

ACJ pointed out that this incident comes as part of a series of ongoing violations committed by the Houthi group against UN staff, humanitarian organizations and civil society, noting the Houthi arbitrary arrests of UN agencies, international and local organizations in late May, describing it as a crime of "enforced disappearance."

He pointed out that these violations coincide with Yemen's urgent need for humanitarian aid in light of the worsening crises suffered by the Yemeni people, which further deepens the suffering of the civilian population.

The American Center for Justice stressed that these unacceptable practices "call for a strong international response," calling on the Houthi group to immediately and unconditionally release all detained employees, vacate the headquarters of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana'a, and return all confiscated assets and property.

ACJ called on the international community to intensify efforts to pressure the Houthis to comply with their obligations under international human rights law and bring those responsible for these violations to justice, and the need to continue supporting the United Nations' efforts to protect human rights in Yemen and work to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all those in need without hindrance.