Amid a society deeply strained by years of war, the Community Consensus and Reconciliation Committee in Taiz has emerged to promote restorative justice and rebuild trust among community members. Through field-based initiatives, the committee works to address divisions and resolve conflicts via community dialogue and reconciliation-based approaches.
Formation of the Committee and Member Selection
The committee was established in January 2025 as part of the SPARK project, implemented by the Abductees’ Mothers Association in partnership with SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties, and funded by the DT Institute. It is one of the most prominent local mechanisms aimed at bridging social rifts in four target districts in Taiz.
According to Essam Al-Sabri, project director, the committee consists of ten members, five representing the Abductees’ Mothers Association and five representing SAM. The formation process ensured balanced community representation from across the governorate’s districts. The committee includes a judge, a women’s representative, a representative of marginalized communities, and field researchers responsible for monitoring needs and conflict dynamics.
An internal structure was established, including a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, public relations officer, and coordination officer.
The targeted districts are Maqbanah, Al-Shammayatyn, Al-Ma’afer, and Al-Mudhaffar. The Abductees’ Mothers Association supervises Maqbanah and Al-Shammayatyn, while SAM is responsible for Al-Ma’afer and Al-Mudhaffar, in accordance with a functional division that covers the geographical scope of the initiative.
The Committee’s Role
The committee began its work with a structured methodology based on collecting information and documentation, and identifying priority conflicts. According to Abdullah Jassar, the committee’s chairperson, the team documents cases and builds a field-based database of victims, affected individuals, and all involved parties, a critical step to ensure transparency and credibility.
The committee has shown strong performance in communicating with all parties, victims, local authorities, community actors, and even disputing parties themselves. There has been wide cooperation from local authorities and security services in the targeted districts, which has strengthened the committee’s presence and role in conflict resolution.
Field Engagement and Conflict Resolution
In May, the committee held several field visits and meetings, including a key visit to the Director General of Al-Shamayatyn district. The meetings addressed pressing community concerns such as the “Al-Ulquma water dispute,” the killing of Mohammad Tariq, and the murder of a marginalized citizen in the Assabt market.
In coordination with local mediators from Al-Budhaija, the committee worked to bridge the gap between parties involved in the Al-Ulquma case. Initial understandings were reached that could serve as a foundation for more comprehensive agreements.
Challenges versus Successes
The committee faces logistical and financial challenges, as highlighted by its chairperson. The limited financial support restricts the mobility of members and hinders swift interventions. At times, resistance from certain individuals necessitates repeated visits and extended negotiations to collect accurate information.
Despite these obstacles, the committee has achieved notable successes. These include its intervention in the case of a burned oil tanker, where it successfully gathered necessary documentation in collaboration with local authorities. Another key success was resolving a complex community dispute over a water project between two villages in Mashra’ah and Hadnan and Al-Misrakh districts. The committee, led by its chairperson, helped calm tensions and reactivate the project.
Jassar notes that the local community is eager for restorative justice, highly cooperative, and in search of stability and security after years of fragmentation. He believes that peacebuilding begins with recognizing victims, documenting facts, and providing a safe platform for dialogue, all of which align with the committee’s broader vision for comprehensive transitional justice.
Toward Sustainable Solutions
The experience of the Community Reconciliation Committee in Taiz serves as a vivid example of the effectiveness of grassroots efforts in conflict resolution. It demonstrates how community-led, restorative approaches, based on voluntary local initiatives, can successfully reduce tensions and promote sustainable peace.