Women in Yemen Facing Extraordinary Hardship - Civil Society Report

The appalling situation for women in Yemen has been laid bare in a stark report. In a country that is already dealing with conflict, COVID-19 and the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, the report demonstrates the continuing burdens women continue to bear.

The report details the structural and societal discrimination that women face, which ranges from significant enrollment gaps between girls and boys in education, to gendered inheritance and personal status laws, even as far as an effective bar on women standing for the presidency. 

From maternal mortality, to representation in the judiciary, the report finds that Yemeni women face discrimination in every part of public and private life, at every stage of their life.

Of the many notable statistics and findings, perhaps most important are those concerning political participation, which suggest that women in Yemen face significant barriers if they are to overturn the legislative and societal barriers to equality. Politically engaged women in Yemen continue to face attacks, threats and violence - whether they are protesting, positing online, or running for office. Further, despite women gaining guarantees of minimum political participation in the National Dialogue process, the report notes that Yemeni women are almost entirely absent from the country’s decision making processes, while they are marginalized in the peace process.

Though the report paints a bleak picture, its publication has been heralded as a key moment for women’s civil society in Yemen. Despite the ongoing conflict, over 60 Yemeni activists representing more than 50 organizations worked together to produce the report, the first of its kind in 12 years.

Launching the report, Amal Basha of Yemen’s Sisters’ Arab Forum for Human Rights and a member of the drafting committee said:

“The report is a manifestation of the ordeal and suffering of Yemeni women emanating from discrimination, exclusion and violence.

However, in spite of the gloomy current reality, Yemeni women’s struggle to bring peace and justice gives hope that the future is promising for gender equality and justice”

Welcoming the report’s publication, Hibaaq Osman of Karama said:

“Despite, conflict, COVID-19 and the worst humanitarian crisis in the world right now, women activists in Yemen are still continuing their work - and this speaks volumes. No matter the devastation that their country has faced, these activists have shown extraordinary commitment.

“Even before the global public health crisis, the world had done all it could to forget about Yemen. This report paints a detailed, rigorous and unflinching picture of the situation for women in Yemen right now. That picture is one of discrimination under the law, of violence against women and violations of their basic rights, their rights in international law, and international humanitarian law. 

“The report also provides detailed recommendations of how the situation can be improved in the short, medium and long term. More than that, it demonstrates the strength and determination of Yemeni civil society to build peace and equality for women and girls.”