The Hague–
On 10 February, Migrants Rights Monitor (MRM) officially announced its launch as an independent human rights initiative dedicated to monitoring, documenting, and reporting human rights violations committed against migrants, with a particular focus on African migrants in Yemen.
Yemen is considered one of the most significant regional transit routes for migrants coming from the Horn of Africa—particularly from Ethiopia and Somalia—on their journey toward Gulf countries. Despite the large and continuous flow of migrants along this route, this serious humanitarian phenomenon continues to suffer from a severe lack of international attention and systematic documentation. Throughout their journey, migrants are exposed to grave and widespread human rights violations in a context marked by armed conflict, weakened rule of law, and the absence of effective protection mechanisms.
In this context, Nahla Al-Maqtari, researcher at Migrants Rights Monitor and based in Yemen, stated:
“At Migrants Rights Monitor, we believe that every human being—regardless of their origin or destination—deserves protection and dignity. This initiative was created to document the violations migrants face in Yemen, to carry their real voices to the world, and to hold perpetrators accountable. Behind every migrant is a story of survival, and our initiative seeks to be a voice for those who have no voice.”
Migrants Rights Monitor aims to address the significant gap in specialized documentation of violations against migrants in Yemen. The initiative documents abuses committed by various actors, including parties to the armed conflict, armed groups, and networks involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking. Documented violations include killing and maiming, arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labor, extortion, and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
The Monitor applies a rigorous and ethical documentation methodology, combining primary sources—such as testimonies of victims and witnesses, medical reports, and direct observations—with reliable secondary sources, including human rights reports and publicly available verified information. All documentation processes adhere to international verification standards and ethical principles, ensuring the safety of victims and survivors, the confidentiality of their information, and full respect for their human dignity.
For his part, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, researcher and Communications Officer at Migrants Rights Monitor, based in the Netherlands, said:
“Migration is not a crisis—exclusion is. This initiative challenges narratives that dehumanize migrants and seeks to advance research-based advocacy that protects rights, dignity, and belonging.”
Migrants Rights Monitor operates with independence and integrity, without affiliation to any political or military entity. The initiative is guided by the principles of neutrality and objectivity and works within the framework of international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and relevant humanitarian standards.
Through its work, the Monitor aims to raise public awareness about the suffering of migrants, support advocacy efforts, and provide reliable information to human rights mechanisms, humanitarian actors, media outlets, and decision-makers, while amplifying the voices of migrants whose experiences are often marginalized and undocumented.
The launch of Migrants Rights Monitor represents a first step toward strengthening the documentation of violations against migrants in Yemen and addressing the severe protection gaps along one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
For media inquiries or further information:
📧 info@migrantsrightsmonitor.org
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