Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act
H.R. 1848, the Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act, would authorize targeted sanctions against members of the Houthi movement in Yemen for human rights abuses and for obstructing or manipulating humanitarian aid. The bill leverages existing U.S. sanctions authorities—the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the Robert Levinson Hostage Taking and Accountability Act—to designate foreign persons who are Houthis and who either commit or facilitate abuses (including hindering aid) or who are involved in hostage-taking or detention of U.S. nationals. In addition to sanctions, the bill requires several mandated reports from the State Department (in coordination with USAID) on topics related to Houthi indoctrination, humanitarian aid access in areas under Houthi control, and documented human rights abuses since 2015. The measure also includes a five-year sunset and defines key terms used throughout the bill. The overarching goal is to increase accountability for Houthi abuses and to inform Congress about the impact of Houthi policies on Yemen’s civilian population and regional stability, while tying sanctions to concrete findings about aid access and human rights violations.
Key Points
- 1Sanctions authorities for Houthis: The bill directs the Secretary of State, with the Treasury, to determine whether individual Houthis meet criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act (for gross human rights abuses) and under the Levinson Act (for hostage-taking or related support). sanctions can then be imposed on those identified.
- 2Hypotheses and policy sense of Congress: The bill states that indoctrination of Yemenis into violent, anti-Semitic, and extremist ideologies threatens Yemen’s peace process and regional stability, and that U.S. policy should oppose any support for such indoctrination or coercion.
- 3Mandated reports on indoctrination and stability threats: Within 180 days of enactment, the State Department (with USAID) must submit a report on Houthi indoctrination efforts and the long-term threat these efforts pose to regional stability.
- 4Humanitarian aid obstacles and interference: Within 180 days, a report must assess obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid in Houthi-controlled areas, including the impact of Houthi rules, movement restrictions, and any manipulation of aid data or beneficiary lists for political/military purposes; it also requires an assessment of retaliation against aid workers and steps the U.S. and partners are taking to ensure aid is delivered impartially and safely.
- 5Detailed human rights abuses report: Within 180 days, a report on human rights abuses by the Houthis (including gender-based discrimination, mahram regulations, child soldiers, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, and unlawful killings) covering March 1, 2015 through 90 days after enactment.
- 6Additional sanctions framework: The bill adds annual (and 180-day) determinations to identify foreign persons who meet specified criteria under both the Global Magnitsky Act and the Levinson Act.
- 7Sunset provision: The act terminates five years after enactment unless renewed.
- 8Definitions: Clarifies terms such as “Houthis” (Ansarallah), “foreign person,” and “United States person.”