Geneva – SAM for Rights and Freedoms addressed an official letter to the Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for the launch of an independent international investigation into serious human rights violations reportedly committed during the period of the United Arab Emirates’ military presence in Yemen.

The organization emphasized that the announcement of the end of the military presence does not absolve the UAE of legal responsibility for serious violations, which – according to the memorandum – included the establishment and funding of armed groups outside the state framework, the construction of unlawful detention facilities, incidents of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance, in addition to military assaults targeting government forces and civilians. SAM stressed that these violations are not isolated incidents but reflect a documented, systematic pattern verified by international reports and field testimonies, necessitating investigation and accountability under international law and state responsibility for internationally unlawful acts.

SAM called for the establishment of an independent and transparent UN-led investigation, ensuring the protection of victims and witnesses, and for the findings to be submitted to the Human Rights Council as a step toward activating international accountability mechanisms. The organization confirmed its full readiness to cooperate with the relevant UN bodies.