HALA AL-HASHIDI

Yemen- The Yemeni Women’s Union is an independent voluntary non-governmental organization established since the 1960s. During the Unification of North and South Yemen, the women's organizations from both countries were merged. They all merged into the Yemeni Women's Union in 1990. The Union provides psychological and social support to women, who are subjected to gender-based violence due to conflict and war in the country, and holds awareness-raising activities about women’s rights. The Union also works in cooperation with government agencies, local and international NGOs to ensure gender equality.

It provides psychological and legal support

NuJINHA spoke to Sabah Rajeh, Director of the Yemen Women's Union branch in Taiz Governorate, about their activities. “Our union provides psychological and legal support to women and it develops projects to provide training programs to women and promote women’s economic empowerment. In Taiz, we provide support to women affected by the conflict. We provide support to women living in a number of the districts of the province such as Al-Maaqir, Al-Mawsit and Al-Shamatin. We have put many projects such as sewing, sheep raising, and small projects into practice in the districts to promote women’s economic empowerment.”

Speaking about how they provide legal support to women, she said, “We have provided legal support to women when they face problems in alimony or child custody. We also provide psychological support to women by organizing meetings with the participation of psychologists.”

The union works in cooperation with the Women and Girls Protection and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz to support women survivors of violence. “The center provides a shelter for survivors of gender-based violence. When survivors of gender-based violence apply to our union, we send them to the center.”

‘One of our goals is to end gender-based violence’

The Yemeni Women’s Union works in cooperation with judicial authorities, the police, and NGOs to provide service to women. “The union works in cooperation with other Yemeni governorates such as the governorates in Sana'a and Aden to provide service to women. One of our goals is to end gender-based violence.”