The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed the need for Yemen’s National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations (NCIAV) to conduct “effective” investigations, supported by comprehensive legal analysis to ensure accountability.
This call was made in his annual report presented to the Human Rights Council during its 60th session held from 8 September to 8 October 2025
The report highlighted that the human rights situation in Yemen remains “critical,” pointing specifically to the deteriorating conditions in areas under the control of the Houthi rebels.
In this context, the Office of the High Commissioner affirmed its commitment to providing technical assistance and advice to the National Commission, despite ongoing challenges related to the liquidity crisis in the UN regular budget.
This UN focus on the effectiveness of investigations comes amid the continued deterioration of economic conditions, military escalation, and Washington’s recent designation of the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization.” The report emphasized the urgent need for sustained efforts to preserve the peace process and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid in this complex situation.
The High Commissioner’s call is a crucial step to revitalize accountability efforts in Yemen, a country plagued by a complex political and humanitarian crisis that has lasted for nearly a decade. Since the Houthi coup in 2014, the country has witnessed widespread human rights violations, including: extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and restrictions on freedoms, all of which have exacerbated the humanitarian situation, which the UN has described as the “worst in the world.”
The National Commission of Inquiry, established by the Yemeni government in 2015 to document violations, faces immense challenges. These challenges are not limited to weak resources and capabilities but also include the difficulty of accessing Houthi-controlled areas, which hinders its ability to conduct comprehensive and impartial investigations. The UN’s technical support aims to bolster “transitional justice and sustainable peace building” by stressing the necessity of preventing perpetrators from escaping punishment—a fundamental step toward addressing the roots of the conflict.