Mwatana for Human Rights, an independent Yemeni human rights organization, was officially registered in April 2013. Even though the group was established in 2007 (as “Hewar Forum”), it was not given a permit by Saleh’s regime due to Hewar’s critiques of the government, particularly during the Saada Wars (six wars between 2004 and 2010) and against the Southern Movement in 2007.

Given Mwatana’s core pursuit to document human rights violations of all parties to the conflict, the organization has been targeted with threats, detentions, and smear campaigns. Mwatana’s staff work under difficult circumstances on a daily basis, both in the main office in Sanaa and in the field. Indeed, distinct parties of the conflict have detained some field staff members in various regions of the country. Many were released only after Mwatana leaders, alongside heavy hitter partner organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, exerted pressure on the leaders of the armed group. Furthermore, many staff members have received personalized in-person, text, and phone call threats.

On March 4, 2016, the Houthis confiscated the passport of Abdulrasheed Alfaqih, Mwatana’s Executive Director, at Sanaa International Airport upon his arrival from Amman, Jordan. He had come from an international solidarity conference with Yemeni journalists, organized by the International Federation of Journalists, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, and other international organizations.

On June 14, 2018, Alfaqih was detained for around 10 hours at Bab al-Falaj security checkpoint, in the Marib governorate, which is controlled by President Hadi’s forces. Just four days later, on June 18, 2018, the Saudi-led coalition and authorities of Seiyun Airport in the Hadhramout governorate confiscated the passports of Radhia al-Mutawakel, Mwatana’s Chairperson, and Alfaqih, and later detained them while they were traveling for a business trip that involved preparations for a training workshop in partnership with the European Union. Alfaqih was also traveling to seek medical treatment. After intense local and international pressure, they were released after 12 hours of detention.

Mwatana’s Fight for Human Rights in a Diminishing and War-Torn Civic Space

Despite these immensely difficult circumstances in a war-torn and diminishing space for activism, Mwatana for Human Rights has remained steadfast in its mission to defend human rights. Aware of historical failures of civil society, Mwatana’s leadership and staff have taken renewed efforts to fulfill the highest professional standards. Though facing continued threats and attacks from all parties of the conflict, its commitment has empowered Mwatana to continue fighting for civilians.

In March 2015, when the armed conflict in Yemen began to escalate, Mwatana had a mere seven members; now, in 2018, it has expanded to around 70 full-time staff spread across 20 of Yemen’s 22 governorates. The organization has three core units: Research, Legal Support, and Media and Communications. In recent years, the Research Unit has focused on documentation of patterns of international humanitarian and human rights law violations committed by all sides in the war, while the Legal Support Unit focuses on direct service measures to victims of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture. Staff members in all areas have boldly ventured far beyond Sanaa to visit detention centers, hospitals, victims and their families, and eyewitnesses, in order to bring global attention to and seek justice for a catastrophic and immensely deadly war.