A/HRC/42/CRP.1 651. In several cases, the women provided evidence of violations in a series of womenled demonstrations against the de facto authorities in Sana’a. This occurred during at least five demonstrations in 2017 and at least two in 2018, where in total over 300 women and girls were subjected to violence and intimidation including unveiling by the de facto authorities, exacerbated by threats of rape, sexual assault, and accusations of prostitution.1010 652. Two demonstrations in Aden by female relatives of detainees for the release of their family members in Aden, one in 2017 and one in 2019, were met with violence by Security Belt forces. 1011 653. The Group also received reports of an emerging trend of the de facto authorities detaining and disappearing a large number of women for months at a time on the basis of their political affiliation or perceived opposition, including some of the women involved in the above demonstrations. It is reported that they have used accusations or formal charges of prostitution to ‘legitimise’ this and dissuade the political participation of other women. The Group was able to verify one such case of a woman who has remained disappeared for over eight months in such a way, and the accusations have had severe consequences for her family.1012 The Group investigated another such case in which a woman described being raped on multiple occasions over a period of months after pro-Houthi lectures and lectures on religion. She described that the same was done to other women activists, and reported that these assaults were occurring within a wider network of secret facilities in which such practices occur.1013 654. Violations by the parties to the conflict in response to women’s actions in exercise of their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly have had profound consequences for women’s rights, and have created a chilling effect, and led to the cessation of nascent women-led demonstrations in Sana’a and Aden. (f) Victim impact “I am psychologically scarred. I continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress and mental blackouts. Over a year later I continue to feel pain in my groin when going to the toilet, and my organs don’t seem to function normally. I also am so traumatized. I have never been able to attend a doctor without my family knowing.” Former Detainee1014 655. Survivors of sexual violence sustained severe trauma, deteriorating mental health, depression, suicidal tendencies, long term injuries to genitals and internal organs, and other grievous physical harm. In one case a survivor of rape was later tortured to death. 656. In Yemen, stigma for survivors and for their families by association was a serious concern for survivors. Disclosing such violence risks being ostracised by families, and being re-victimised by family members. In many cases, survivors have been unable to disclose the violence to anyone due to stigma and fear of reprisal, and the Group provided the first opportunity for them to do so.1015 657. Those who had sought prosecution were met with indifference, reprisal, and impunity.1016 In the case of survivors from marginalized communities, their status may have been a factor in the refusal by parties to investigate and prosecute cases. No perpetrator has been held to account for any of the sexual violence documented in the Group’s reports. 1010 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. 1012 Confidential Sources on File. For further details, see also chapter on Sana’a and other areas under de facto authority control. 1013 Confidential Sources on File. 1014 Confidential Sources on File. 1015 Confidential Sources on File. 1016 See also Section 4 above. 1011 157