Rights organization: Yemeni women suffer from systematic violence as a result of the ongoing conflict

SAM Organization for Rights and Freedoms said on Monday that Yemeni women suffer from systematic violence as a result of the conflict that has been ongoing for ten years, calling for urgent international action to stop these violations against them and protect their rights.

The organization stated in a statement on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on November 25 of each year, “Women in Yemen have been continuously exposed to systematic violations since the outbreak of the armed conflict in September 2014, in the absence of legal protection, which leaves women and girls in a constant confrontation with violence and discrimination.”

She added, "Women and girls face multiple risks from indiscriminate shelling, forced displacement, and human rights violations, including sexual violence and exploitation," explaining that she documented more than 5,000 cases of violations against women until the end of 2022, including 1,100 killings and 2,200 injuries.

She continued, "Reports indicate that 7.1 million women across Yemen are in need of urgent protection and assistance services, as a result of the war that has been going on for 10 years, adding that the horrifying statistics show the extent of the tragedy that Yemeni women and girls are experiencing."

The organization pointed out that the violations committed against women in Yemen reach the point of execution, citing the incident of the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a, which is under Houthi control, issuing a death sentence against activist Fatima Al-Arouli in December 2023, who was convicted of fabricated and flimsy charges related to espionage and cooperation with a hostile party. During the trial, Fatima was not given the opportunity to obtain adequate legal representation, which reflects the serious human rights violations that occur within the judicial system in Yemen.

The organization stated that reports and accounts document horrific cases of arbitrary detention and torture to which women are subjected in Houthi prisons, where they are held in secret locations and under harsh conditions. Testimonies also indicate the use of brutal methods of torture, including sexual assault, electric shocks, beatings, and deprivation of food and water.

SAM Organization for Rights and Freedoms pointed out that Yemeni women are still politically marginalized, as there are no women in the Presidential Leadership Council, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, or Minister of Foreign Affairs, adding that women face discrimination in reaching leadership positions due to customs, traditions, and unfair laws, which deprives society of benefiting from their capabilities and contributions.

Sam noted that Yemeni women are facing a worsening health crisis and are suffering from a severe shortage of basic medical services, as it is estimated that one woman dies in childbirth every two hours, and that 12.6 million women in Yemen are in need of reproductive health services and life-saving protection.

SAM highlighted that the war has greatly affected girls’ education in Yemen, with primary school enrolment rates in government schools dropping to 73.97% and completion rates to 36%, while more than two million school-age girls and boys are out of school due to poverty, conflict and lack of opportunities.

SAM stated in its statement that women and children constitute about 76% of the total number of displaced people in Yemen, including more than one million displaced women, most of whom suffer from a severe shortage of basic and health needs, and girls face increased risks of early marriage, exploitation, and violence.

The organization reported that the suffering of Yemeni women has been exacerbated by restrictions on their freedom of movement, especially in areas controlled by the Houthi group. Since 2017, the Houthis have imposed increasing restrictions on women, including requiring a “mahram” to travel, which has deprived them of job opportunities in NGOs and UN agencies, and even access to higher education.

Sam said that Yemeni women suffer from the absence of adequate legislation to protect them from violence, whether at home or in society, as local laws still suffer from major gaps in terms of protecting women’s rights, leaving women and girls in constant confrontation with violence and discrimination. In addition, the parties to the conflict, especially the Houthis, exploit vague legal provisions based on customs and traditions to justify violations of women’s rights.

SAM concluded its statement by saying that this tragedy calls for urgent action by the international community and Yemeni parties to stop violations, protect the rights of Yemeni women, and ensure their human dignity, by taking serious measures, including: “strengthening legal and legislative protection by adopting strict legislation to combat violence against women, including criminalizing domestic violence, and providing legal mechanisms that guarantee women’s access to justice, in addition to the need to amend Yemeni laws to ensure gender equality and protect women from all forms of violence, in line with international agreements signed by Yemen.”

Sam also urged the international community to redouble its efforts to support Yemeni women, by pressuring the parties to the conflict to release arbitrarily detained women and hold those involved accountable, in addition to obligating them to stop violations targeting women, respect women’s rights, and ensure their political participation, stressing that building a new Yemen can only be achieved with the active participation of women, in a safe environment free from violence and discrimination.