Türk calls for immediate release of UN, humanitarian staff detained in Yemen

Delivered by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk

At Geneva

My colleagues in Yemen remain arbitrarily detained – and some have been deprived of their liberty for five years now. Every day, the injustice of their detention is compounded. Their suffering, and that of their families, is intolerable.

On this International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, I call, again, on the de facto authorities in Yemen to release immediately and unconditionally the 73 UN staff members, including eight from my Office. Under no circumstances can UN personnel be detained, much less charged with crimes, for undertaking their vital work on behalf of the Yemeni people.

I pay tribute to these colleagues, the other humanitarian workers also detained in Yemen, and to the thousands of UN staff who work in the most difficult situations, in crises and conflicts, to serve communities in need of support.

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Thameen Al-Kheetan: +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org

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