Freedom of association 

In areas controlled by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement, the continued detention of UN personnel and employees of international organizations remains among the most serious violations. In June 2026, the United Nations confirmed that the Houthis continued to hold 73 UN personnel, in addition to dozens of civil society workers. This pattern of detention, ongoing since May 2024, has been widely viewed by the United Nations and a number of international organizations as a means of exerting political pressure on humanitarian operations, directly disrupting relief programs amid Yemen's worsening food crisis.

At the same time, the authorities in Sana'a have continued to impose stringent institutional controls through the Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (SCMCHA), requiring organizations to obtain operating permits subject to prior security approval. SCMCHA also exercises extensive oversight over organizational budgets and recruitment policies, while freezing the assets of organizations that refuse to comply with its political and security directives.

In southern governorates under the control of the internationally recognized government and the Southern Transitional Council, civil society organizations continue to face similarly complex challenges. Human rights organizations are subjected to pressure from influential non-state actors, while overlapping mandates between security institutions and government ministries have created administrative uncertainty. These practices have contributed to lengthy licensing procedures and increased constraints on organizations critical of government performance, further restricting independent civic action.

Freedom of expression 

Within this broader context of increasing restrictions on public expression, areas controlled by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement, authorities continued summoning and detaining bloggers and activists who criticized deteriorating living conditions and salary delays under accusations of undermining national security. Both official and unofficial detention facilities reportedly continued to hold journalists and activists arbitrarily.

Beyond restrictions imposed through formal or informal detention practices, direct attacks against media professionals have further intensified concerns regarding the safety of journalists. Journalist Mohammed Ayedah, a correspondent for Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, was assassinated in Mukalla, eastern Yemen, on 24 June 2026 when his vehicle was destroyed by an explosive device. According to security sources, an improvised explosive device had been planted beneath the driver's seat, causing the vehicle to catch fire completely. The attack followed several weeks of direct threats against the journalist, reflecting the severe security risks faced by media workers in Yemen. On 25 June 2026, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, stressed that attacks against journalists and civil society actors undermine the foundations of civic life, calling on all parties to ensure a safe environment for media and human rights work and to end impunity for such crimes. 

Similar concerns over the protection of journalists and civic actors were also reported in other areas of Yemen, where armed actors and security-related pressures continued to affect civic participation and independent work. On 28 June 2026, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) issued a statement after receiving multiple reports from journalists stating that unidentified armed individuals had abducted media worker Hamoud Haza'a from a public event in Marib known as the 'National Alignment' gathering. According to local media reports, he was transported to an unknown location, raising concerns regarding his safety and the increasing risks faced by journalists and civic actors operating in Yemen.

In addition to cases involving physical threats and restrictions on journalists’ freedom of movement, intimidation and pressure through direct threats continued to create a hostile environment for media work. On 6 June 2026, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) announced that it had received a complaint from journalist Mohammed Omar Balahman, correspondent for Al Ekhbariya TV in Mukalla, regarding threats and pressure he had received through a phone call in connection with his journalistic work and coverage of public affairs. The Syndicate condemned any threats or intimidation targeting journalists because of their professional activities, considering such practices a violation of press freedom and freedom of expression. 

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

Across different areas of Yemen, security authorities continued to rely on public security considerations and administrative permit requirements as pretexts to limit civic mobilization. On 30 June 2026, security forces reportedly dispersed protests and peaceful gatherings demanding economic and public rights, citing the lack of prior security approvals. The same period also witnessed public forums and initiatives by media and civic actors, including activities organized by the Yemeni Media Observatory “Sada,” highlighting concerns over restrictions on public assembly and civic freedoms.

In southern governorates, similar patterns were observed as authorities increasingly relied on administrative and security measures to restrict labor and community-based mobilization. In areas including Aden and Shabwah, local security committees invoked references to “unauthorized gatherings” and public security concerns to prevent or disperse teachers’ and civil servants’ rallies calling for salary adjustments, improved working conditions, and access to basic services. In Aden, on 10 June 2026, residents held protests in response to deteriorating living conditions, prolonged electricity shortages, and worsening public services. Demonstrators gathered in several areas of the city, including Crater and Al-Mualla, to express grievances over service failures and economic hardship. Security forces were deployed during the protests, reflecting the continued reliance on security measures to manage public expressions of socio-economic discontent.  Similarly, in Abyan governorate, for example, public protests in Mudiyah denouncing the deterioration of essential services and rejecting foreign guardianship were reportedly subject to restrictions and security intervention.

Meanwhile, in areas under the control of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement, public gatherings addressing economic grievances remained subject to strict security oversight. Authorities continued to impose restrictive authorization procedures through security bodies, limiting assemblies related to salary delays, labor demands, and deteriorating living conditions, while treating such demonstrations as challenges to public order and state security. Overall, monitoring demonstrated the continued reliance on public security and administrative permit requirements to restrict public gatherings, gradually transforming these procedures from regulatory requirements into practical constraints that limit the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly guaranteed under international human rights law.