Protest in Geneva Demands Lifting of Houthi Siege on Taiz

On Thursday, a protest took place in the United Nations Square in Geneva, Switzerland, calling on the United Nations, the Security Council, and the international community to lift the Houthi siege imposed on the city of Taiz, stop violations against civilians, and take practical measures to end the suffering of the population and hold those responsible for crimes committed in Yemen accountable.

The participants in the protest, organized by the Humanitarian Rights League in solidarity with Taiz, demanded a complete and permanent lifting of the siege, the opening of roads and crossings for civilians, and ensuring the safe and regular access of food, medicine, fuel, water, and humanitarian aid.

A statement issued by the protesters called on the international community to take a firm stance against the Houthi group, including working to designate it as a terrorist group under applicable legal frameworks, cutting off its sources of funding and armament used in its armed activities and violations, as well as strengthening independent investigation and documentation mechanisms and holding those responsible for crimes against civilians accountable under international law.

The statement also stressed the need to support Yemeni state institutions and strengthen the rule of law, rejecting any political settlements that entrench the power of armed groups or grant perpetrators of violations immunity from accountability. It called for intensifying the humanitarian response in Taiz and other affected areas, and providing protection for journalists, human rights defenders, and activists who document violations.

The participants affirmed their solidarity with the people of Taiz and its defenders on various fronts, calling for the continuation of human rights, media, and political movements to keep the city's cause on the international agenda and to translate positions of solidarity into practical steps that end the siege and stop the violations.

The statement considered the issue of Taiz to be beyond its local scope, representing a test of the international community's seriousness in protecting civilians and enforcing the law. It called for responsible action that ends the suffering of the population, provides justice for the victims, and supports the establishment of a safe and stable Yemeni state based on justice, equal citizenship, and respect for human rights.

Parliamentarians, political figures, human rights activists, and journalists participated in the protest, delivering speeches that addressed the repercussions of the war in Yemen, Houthi violations, and the humanitarian situation in Taiz amid the ongoing siege and the restrictions it imposes on civilian movement and access to food, medicine, fuel, water, and basic services.

The speakers emphasized that the continued siege of Taiz is a humanitarian and human rights issue that requires serious international action. They stressed the need to protect civilians, ensure freedom of movement, secure access to aid and essential supplies, and not leave the population to face their suffering without effective measures.