Yemen-  The Protection and Rehabilitation Center in Taizz, southwest of Yemen, held a symposium entitled 'Empowerment of Women' for women and girls on the occasion of International Women's Day in collaboration with the Justice (Adalah) Center for Human Rights Studies, supported by the UN Women and funded by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.

Lawyer Moeen Al-Obaidi made the opening speech at the symposium. Emphasizing the importance of women's participation in decision-making positions, she stressed that women should continue to demand their rights and equality.

“We must work decisively to remind Yemeni women of their rights and ambitions, as well as the issues and violence faced by them, particularly during the conflict,” said Sabah Rajeh, director of the Protection and Rehabilitation Center for women and girls. "We must also activate women's roles and participation while bearing the obligations of public and private commissions, as well as promote their remarkable achievements in their field of work."

Violence against women

At the symposium, lawyer Raghda Al-Maqtari made a presentation titled "Violence against women over the years of war”. She showed photos of gender-based violence in Yemen before the war, during armed conflicts, and the impact of conflicts on women and girls.

“Since the war broke out in 2015, women have been subjected to domestic violence by their husbands, fathers, and other male family members, and they have been also subjected to all kinds of violence such as physical, psychological, verbal, and sexual harassment, legal violence that restricts women's rights. The war has a negative impact on women's lives due to early marriage, harassment, rape, and educational deprivation.

Gender quota

Researcher Mohammed Rashid also made a presentation titled, "Women's Participation in Decision- Making progress”. She talked about the gender quota and women’s participation in decision-making positions between 2011 and 2022 as well as the factors affecting their participation. She also talked about women’s participation in social, economic, political, cultural, legislative, and security issues.

Stating that although women joined protests, marches, demonstrations, and other activities in 2011, Mohammed Rashid emphasized that there has been no significant progress in the percentage of women’s participation in leadership positions since the comprehensive national dialogue conference was held. “Women's political participation remains low,” she said.

At the end of the symposium, a number of recommendations were made for political parties and organizations, as well as civil society organizations, whose goal is to increase women’s participation in decision-making positions and empower them.

Many speakers underlined the necessity of ending violence against women and empowering women to reach decision-making positions.