A/HRC/45/CRP.7 Violations by De Facto Authorities in Sana’a 217. The Group verified that between 2016 and July 2020 the de facto authorities’ Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and police forces violated the rights of two transgender women, one transgender man, two gay men and two persons with non-binary gender identity, in similar circumstances and using similar means and methods. All seven persons were initially arbitrarily detained based on their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Survivors also witnessed the detention of nine other gay men and one other person with nonbinary gender identity by the police and CID. The current whereabouts and welfare of these other ten persons are unknown to witnesses and the Group. De facto authorities also targeted and shut down some of the few existing services and safe gathering spaces that had supported and welcomed survivors in areas under their control.320 218. Most of these violations occurred between December 2018 and July 2020, during the Houthi campaign against “immorality” and prostitution.321 The seven survivors were detained by police and CID for between several hours to several months, during which they were subjected to interrogations and falsely accused of prostitution, spreading “immorality” and homosexuality, corrupting society, and supporting the coalition through this. For instance, one of them was accused of “seducing the youth to prevent them going to the frontline.”322 Four survivors detained at CID were subjected to torture, including sexual violence, during interrogations by beatings, electrocution, whipping with cables, hanging for long periods of time, dousing in cold water, burning with cigarettes, beating their sexual organs, interfering with their buttocks, and forced nudity. Four survivors were raped by police or CID forces. In two cases, this consisted of penile rape and rape with a bottle. In four cases, survivors were subjected to humiliating faux “examinations” of their vagina or anus, supposedly as a means to “confirm” their sex or whether they had been penetrated in their anus. In the course of these actions, as part of the “examination”, they were subjected to digital rape.323 Violations by UAE/STC-backed Security Belt forces 324 219. The Group verified that between 2018 and June 2020 the Security Belt forces, first backed by the UAE and after 1 August 2019 by the STC, perpetrated sexual violence, arbitrary detention, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and threats and harassment against two transgender women and one person with non-binary gender identity. All three survivors described to the Group how they were targeted for having visibly and clearly feminine behaviour and appearance, thus not conforming with societal notions of being “male” as they had been ascribed at birth, and posing a “threat” to society because of this.325 220. All three survivors described how they were detained in Security Belt facilities, where they were interrogated, subjected to forced nudity, beaten and had their hair or eyebrows shaved. The male interrogators perpetrated sexual violence by way of beating and faux “examinations” of their sexual organs. The transgender women described how they were subjected to particularly cruel and humiliating violence.326 221. Survivors were told that they were being investigated and punished for deviant behaviour, “tarnishing” the country, luring men, and being a threat to society. In one case, similar to the accusations made by members of the de facto authorities, a survivor was accused during interrogation of spreading homosexuality with the support of outside organisations and that thus they were “a danger to the South” and “an enemy of the South”, as per the Security Belt’s area of control and wider objectives. At no point were survivors formally charged with any offences. The Group received further allegations, which are yet to 320 Confidential sources on file. See sub-section above on De Facto Authority Detention, Torture and Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Sanaa (paras. 205 and ff). 322 Confidential sources on file. 323 Confidential sources on file. 324 Confidential sources on file. 325 Confidential sources on file. 326 Confidential sources on file. 321 60