Mwatana Launches Interactive Human Rights Violations Map in Yemen
Mwatana for Human Rights has launched an interactive map that presents precise data encapsulating ten years of war’s grim legacy—over 15,500 incidents of human rights violations documented by Mwatana. These violations, committed by ten key local, regional, and international actors since the conflict erupted in late 2014, span across 21 Yemeni governorates. The violations, affecting approximately 30,000 civilians, are categorized into 32 patterns. The data was meticulously gathered by the organization through field investigations and primary sources, with tens of thousands of testimonies and witness accounts being documented.
The interactive human rights violations map provides researchers, journalists, institutions, local, regional, and international stakeholders interested in Yemen with a powerful tool. It offers multiple search options based on patterns, parties involved, incidents, dates, geographic locations, governorates, and civilian victim statistics, including the number of women and children impacted, among other data inputs.
The map sheds light on violations perpetrated by ten main actors: the Saudi/UAE-led coalition, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, the internationally recognized Yemeni government, including factions loyal to the Islah Party, the Southern Transitional Council, the joint forces on Yemen’s western coast, the United States, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Eritrean naval forces, the U.S.-British alliance, and Israel. The map also presents various statistical indicators related to Mwatana’s work on documenting human rights violations, including the number of testimonies and accounts recorded, field visits conducted, legal follow-ups, released victims, and the number of reports, studies, statements, blogs, and films issued by the organization.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, stated, "The launch of Mwatana’s interactive human rights violations map for Yemen is part of our vision for digital transformation. It’s a step toward building a comprehensive human rights memory that contributes to preserving victims’ rights, promoting accountability, and seeking justice and reparation, all while laying the groundwork for future transitional justice in Yemen." Al-Mutawakel added, "The interactive map serves as a new space to remind the world of Yemeni civilian victims who have been overlooked for ten years and the horrific violations they endured. It is also a reminder of the international community's failure to fulfill its responsibilities to hold perpetrators accountable and provide redress for victims, in a global system that often allows impunity and applies double standards in addressing human rights crises."
Mwatana emphasized that the map does not provide an exhaustive account but rather reflects what Mwatana has documented and verified using its investigative field methodology, adhering to the highest standards to ensure accuracy regarding the nature of the violations, the victims' identities, and the surrounding circumstances. It also collects testimonies, evidence, and related records to establish accountability. The data and indicators displayed on the map represent only a portion of the violations inflicted upon Yemeni civilians.
Mwatana also stated that its field teams continue to document human rights violations across various regions in Yemen, and the findings of these investigations will regularly update the map’s data and indicators. This map serves as a vital tool offering a precise depiction of the human rights situation in Yemen, complementing other methods the organization uses to shed light on these issues, such as studies, reports, statements, blogs, multimedia, and other publications.
Furthermore, Mwatana reiterated its call for the establishment of an independent international criminal mechanism with a mandate to investigate, gather evidence, ensure accountability, provide compensation and reparations, and facilitate reconstruction—crucial steps toward transitional justice and reconciliation. Such measures are vital for building a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace, as well as establishing a state grounded in law, justice, equality, human rights, tolerance, coexistence, stability, and development.
