Fighting violence against women in Yemen continues

By Fares Anam A Mozambican activist said that there can be no peace on Earth as the war is still on-going at home. She stressed that violence against women was still continuing throughout the World. Coinciding with the launch of the global campaign entitled 16 Days of Activism to End Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) celebrated with the National Women Committee on November 25th, the International Day for Anti-Violence Against Women, which also marks the beginning of the 16 days campaign. “This aims to create a symbolic link between violence against women on one hand and human rights on the other and to make sure that any violent practicing against women is considered a violation of human rights in general and their rights and the rights of their children,” said UNFPA officials to journalists during a media meeting held on Tuesday. “From Peace in Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women,” read a banner, which was set up to illustrate this year’s message. Recent conflicts in Yemen have led to the displacement of a great many numbers of families in the provinces of Sa’adah and Abyan, putting mostly women and children in difficult and precarious situations. In such humanitarian circumstances, it has been proven that women are more vulnerable to violence than other groups. “The current situation affected women and increased violence against them. There are women who are forced to flee their homes with their children without their husbands or belongings, which makes them more vulnerable,” said UNFPA Representative in Yemen, Marc Vandenberghe. Vandenberghe focused on the importance of sustained partnership between the media, the Fund and civil society organizations to raise citizens’ awareness on women’s issues, especially anti-violence against them, which violates human rights in general and the rights of women and children in particular. The UNFPA in cooperation with the NWC led the “16 Days campaign” this year through the launch of a number of events and activities aimed at raising community awareness of the phenomenon of violence based on gender. During the meeting, a Yemeni film entitled “Hope remains” was shown which showcased the persecution of women and the use of violence against them throughout force marriages and imposed illiteracy. The film also exposed several communities› state of minds towards women and the prevalence of violence. Violence against women and girls takes many forms, such as rape, physical abuse, and harassment in the workplace, schools and traditional practices as well as genital mutilation. Furthermore sexual violence in armed has considered the most important obstacle to achieve full equality between men and women as stated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon in a speech rendered for the occasion. The campaign is considering a worldwide strategy calling on for the end of all forms of violence against women and inviting civil society to play a key role in spreading the concept of security. Yemen is working under the system of international charters and conventions which will help to hold the government responsible for the protection of rights (Beijing curriculum and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Commission in addition to the UN Security Council resolutions No.1325 on women, peace and security, and so on). All participants in the meeting agreed that the most effective ways to raise awareness among people in regards to violence against women were through developing media means which would help promote a change in the stereotyped images that society has of women and using prominent religious figures in urging men to respect women rights. There are also other important factors that must be achieved like funding public media campaigns to broadcast specific messages to the definition of violence, its forms and its methods of treatment, as well as holding more awareness meetings and seminars on the topic of violence against women. “The UNFPA relies a lot on the media to discuss these issues seriously which raises people›s awareness of such issues and work side by side with the competent authorities to combat violence against women for an environment free from violence,” Vandenberghe said.