A/HRC/45/CRP.7 gender norms. As detailed above, this is part of a broader trend of weaponizing gender in the conflict to legitimise parties' authority, suppress the political participation of women, and enable violations against women and girls. 347. The SCC has been less active in areas under the control of the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council, given the general disruption of the justice system in these areas. Where operational, there are some indications of greater compliance with procedural standards.519 However, there are reports of ongoing political interference with the justice system, with the Supreme Judicial Council and the Attorney General of the Government of Yemen reportedly encouraging the Prosecutor to open legal proceedings against individuals within the de facto authorities. There are similar concerns about the SCC in Government of Yemen controlled areas being used as a security court to serve the political interests of the authorities in charge. On 2 April 2020, for instance, the SCC in Aden opened a trial in absentia of 32 Houthi leaders, including Abdulmalik Al-Houthi. The trial started during the judicial recess, despite Yemeni law permitting only cases of an “urgent nature” to proceed during such time. Some interlocutors reported to the Group that the launching of the case was an attempt to replicate the politicised SCC proceedings in Sana’a, but was done in such a way as to mitigate the risk of retaliation against the property of those affiliated with the Government of Yemen who remain in the North.520 2. Fair trial and related rights 348. Widespread violations of fair trial and related rights of individuals continue to be committed across Yemen.521 349. Investigations by the Group revealed a prevailing pattern of extorting selfincriminating statements and confessions through threats, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment by authorities of varying parties to the conflict522. In one case, a detainee was held in solitary confinement for 27 days and repeatedly subjected to torture including severe beating and electrocution. He was forced to confess on video to the commission of crimes, with the video being subsequently aired on a local TV channel affiliated to the Houthis.523 In another case, a detainee held by the de facto authorities was repeatedly tortured and similarly forced to confess on video. The Group verified similar instances in relation to Government of Yemen personnel. In one case, for instance, a man who was disappeared was forced to sign confessions after being subjected to torture at an unofficial detention facility controlled by the Government of Yemen. Over a 2-3 month period, he was forced to sign a number of documents, not knowing the contents because he was blindfolded, and to fingerprint 30 to 40 documents that he was told was the full investigation report.524 350. As noted earlier in this report (see para. 155), the constitutional safeguard establishing that a person in custody shall be presented before a court within 24 hours from the time of arrest is systematically denied. In virtually all cases investigated, detainees have no access to a court, and even less access to a lawyer during the interrogation period. This significant time gap allows for torture and cruel and inhuman treatment to be committed and to continue with impunity, as by the time the defendant is brought before the prosecutor or even later before the court, time-sensitive evidence of physical abuse has been lost. A legal representative of one client referred to the difficulties in having courts make findings in relation to such torture. In the case of his client, who testified that he had been tortured during interrogation by the Houthis, the judges appointed a commission to investigate the allegations. The latter found that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove the violations as there was no medical record and, due to the lapse of time between the events and the investigation, no significant signs were visible any longer on the body of the victim.525 519 Confidential sources on file. Confidential sources on file. 521 A/HRC/42/CRP.1, including paras. 921 and 249. 522 Confidential sources on file. 523 Confidential sources on file. 524 Confidential sources on file. 525 Confidential source on file. 520 87