A number of human rights and women’s rights defenders, community leaders, a representative from the local council and authority, and religious speakers participated in a dialogue session to discuss violations against women activists, both online and on the ground, and their impact on women’s civil and political participation in the peacebuilding process, as well as ways to strengthen mechanisms for protecting peace activists.

During the session, held by the Abductees’ Mothers Association in Al-Ma’afer District, Taiz Governorate, the 13 participants emphasized that the main causes behind the violations committed against women activists, both virtually and in real life, include hate speech, extremism, political conflict, armed violence, racial discrimination, marginalization, unemployment, and the lack of legal awareness among citizens.

Participants noted that media incitement and defamation, hate speech, violence against women activists, online blackmail, digital violence, and cyber harassment are among the most common violations experienced by Yemeni women activists throughout their journey.

In the session outcomes, participants stressed the importance of strengthening and equipping the women’s police unit within the local security department, holding regular dialogue sessions with local partners, building women’s capacities, raising legal and community awareness, establishing digital monitoring mechanisms, issuing regular reports, and engaging religious leaders and local media.

These dialogue sessions are part of the project “Protecting Civil and Women’s Spaces and Promoting Women’s Role in the Peace Process,” supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Untited Nations Peace Support Facility (PSF).

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