Yemen

In 2024 Yemen saw an escalation of military activities, violence and human rights’ violations, including crackdowns of civic spaces and arbitrary detentions, as well as an increasing anti-women’s rights rhetoric, and regional spillover effects of the conflict in Gaza. These realities enhanced the importance of women and young meaningfully participating in peacebuilding efforts, mediation initiatives, and decision-making structures. To facilitate this participation, Yemeni women and youth leaders increased their peacebuilding capacities and engagement with actors from tracks I, II and III. UN Women facilitated these results both in reflection of the contextual situation and as part of the agency’s prioritization of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace, and Security initiatives.
Specifically, women and youth peace actors are in the process of developing a series of gender-responsive recommendations to be considered in upcoming peace negotiations and formal peace agreements. To facilitate this result, a total of 200 women and youth peace actors (70% women) strengthened their knowledge and skills through a series of training and capacity building initiatives organized in collaboration with the Women National Council and the Office of the Special Envoy to Yemen (OSESGY). Participants enhanced their knowledge on different aspects of peacebuilding, effective negotiations, and mechanisms for peace. The presence of a skilled group of women and youth increases the likelihood of their inclusion and meaningful participation in peace negotiations at local and national levels across Track I, II and III. The activities implemented seek to contribute to elaboration of a gender-responsive roadmap for peace (planned for 2024).
The above results are part of a larger strategic collaboration with national gender machineries (Women National Council of the Internationally Recognized Government - IRG), OSESGY, Yemeni women peace and political actors, and women- and youth-led civil society organizations in Yemen and diaspora.
Through its active work on UNSCR 1325 and WPS Agenda, UN Women Yemen directly contributed to SDG 5 and SDG 16, leveraging CEDAW General Recommendation No 30 and 2030 Agenda with its focus on “Leaving no woman or girl behind” as key guiding frameworks, and directly contributing to Yemen UNSDCF Outcome 2, Output 2.1.

In Yemen, the contextual situation and key priorities for WPS and YPS led UN Women in 2023 to continue to focus on increasing the meaningful participation of women and youth in decision-making structures and the revitalized peace process, strengthening the capacities of Yemeni women and youth leaders, and supporting engagement and coordination with actors from tracks I, II and III.
Women and youth peace actors are in process of developing a series of gender-responsive recommendations to be taken into account in on-going peace negotiations and upcoming formal peace agreements. To facilitate this result, a total of 200 women and youth peace actors strengthened their knowledge and skills through a series of training and capacity building initiatives organized in collaboration with the Women National Council and the Office of the Special Envoy to Yemen (OSESGY). Participants enhanced their knowledge on different aspects of peacebuilding, effective negotiations, and mechanisms for peace. The presence of a skilled group of women and youth should help ensure participation of these groups in peace negotiations at local and national levels across Track I, II and III. UN Women – OSESGY consultations are also supporting the development of gender-responsive recommendations through the provision of specialized technical support for the elaboration, compilation and harmonization of the relevant inputs provided by participants. All activities implemented seek to strengthen the active and meaningful participation of women and youth peace actors in upcoming formal peace negotiations and processes, including in the elaboration of a gender-responsive roadmap for peace (planned for 2024).
The above results are part of a larger strategic collaboration with national gender machineries (Women National Council of the IRG), OSESGY, Yemeni women peace and political actors, and women- and youth-led civil society organizations in Yemen and diaspora, UN Women adopted a multi-pronged approach that fosters a common vision for an inclusive peace process that effectively integrates women and youth needs and priorities for peace. The approach adopted encompasses: (i) strengthening knowledge, skills and capacities for peace of women and youth groups and peace actors across the country; (ii) fostering dialogue and networks among peace practitioners to enhance knowledge sharing and learning; (iii) carrying out inclusive consultations with relevant peace actors and stakeholders to produce recommendations for a more inclusive and gender-sensitive peace process.
Through its active work on UNSCR 1325 and WPS Agenda, UN Women Yemen directly contributed to SDG 5 and SDG 16, leveraging CEDAW General Recommendation No 30 and 2030 Agenda with its focus on “Leaving no woman or girl behind” as key guiding frameworks, and directly contributing to Yemen UNSDCF Outcome 2, Output 2.1.