Document Type
White Paper
Publication Date
4-2026
Abstract
"The Yemen Accountability Project (YAP) is proud to announce the publication of its seventh white paper, Piracy and the Yemen Civil War. Piracy is a crime of such gravity that it has been recognized as jus cogens—a peremptory norm of customary international law subject to universal jurisdiction, with states holding both the right and the obligation to prosecute pirates wherever they are found. Despite this universal prohibition, YAP has documented instances of piracy and associated violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by parties to the Yemen Civil War, including hostage taking, torture, arbitrary detention, and the potential use of child pirates. YAP's most recent white paper documents these violations and recommends mechanisms through which perpetrators may be held accountable and victims may seek justice."
Recommended Citation
Case Western Reserve University School of Law, "Law Over Water: Piracy and the Yemen Civil War" (2026). Yemen Accountability Project (YAP). 8.
https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/war_crimes_yap/8