Yemen- Yemeni women have faced many challenges and problems because of the ongoing Yemeni civil war that began in 2014. Three-quarters of the 4.5 million displaced people in Yemen are women and children, where around 26 per cent of displaced households are headed by women, according to the UN. However, discriminatory gender norms and gender-based violence continue to hamper the ability of women to support themselves and their families. 

Yemeni women and girls have no access to the life-saving reproductive health and protection services. According to the report of the United Nations Population Fund, about 7.1 million women require urgent access to gender-based violence services.

In addition, Yemeni women and girls are subjected to human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, threats and torture.

“Violence against women continues to be one of the most notable human rights violations in Yemen,” said judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari, a member of the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations to Human Rights (NCIAVHR) in Yemen. “The Yemeni civil war has led to an increase in violence against women and burden on women.”

Ishraq Al-Maqtari thinks that the discriminatory legislation and laws hamper gender-based violence in Yemen. “The discriminatory legislation and laws continue to encourage the perpetrators. The perpetrators are too often granted impunity for their crimes. Although the Constitution of Yemen provides that Yemeni society is based on social solidarity, justice, freedom and equality according to the law, women and girls cannot enjoy their rights due to social customs.”

‘The Houthis restrict women’s role in society’

Ishraq Al-Maqtari also talked about the rights violations against women in the country. “The civil war is the main factor that increases human rights violations in Yemen. Women are subjected to many rights violations such as arbitrary detention, threats and torture. The Houthis restrict women’s role in society and prevent women’s movements and women’s political participation.

“Women activists and rights defenders have been subjected to blackmail campaigns due to the media, religious extremism, and discourse in mosques. There is also an increase in child marriage and early marriage.”

She called on the NGOs, local communities and government institutions in Yemen to “support and encourage women survivors of violence so that they can report violence against them. The Yemeni parliament should develop strategies to reduce violence against women.”