The “Transitional Justice Ambassadors Forum” launched its activities with its first monthly meeting, bringing together a diverse group of participants, including human rights activists, academics, representatives of civil society organizations, as well as victims and survivors. The session began with introductions and a welcoming note to the attendees. The organizers explained that the forum was established under the “SPARK” project, implemented by the Abductees’ Mothers Association in partnership with SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties and funded by the DT Institute. Designed as a community dialogue platform, the forum seeks to unify efforts toward building a reconciled and just Yemen rooted in fairness and accountability.
Ms. Sahar Mohammed, Project Assistant at the DT Institute, presented an overview of the SPARK project and its objectives in promoting transitional justice principles. She explained that the project began in October 2024 with the largest field study of its kind to explore Yemenis’ perspectives on transitional justice across six governorates. The study engaged over 300 participants from diverse backgrounds. She added that the project later expanded to train more than 100 participants on transitional justice principles adapted to Yemen’s unique context. It also launched community initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion, including programs for restoring confiscated properties and establishing a “Memory Museum” in Taiz to document war violations and corruption — the first of its kind in Yemen.
Forum Vision: A Yemen healed through justice and reconciliation
The forum’s management then presented its vision and mission under the theme “A Yemen healed through justice and reconciliation.” The forum’s core aim is to help Yemen recover from the wounds of past conflicts through a transitional justice process that delivers redress for victims and prevents impunity. The coordinator emphasized that Yemen’s repeated cycles of conflict stem largely from the absence of transitional justice in previous political transitions. She stressed that the forum seeks to become a “national space for dialogue” connecting victims, experts, and human rights advocates to promote accountability, reconciliation, and social healing.
Core Principles: Victims at the heart of the process
The forum also announced seven guiding principles forming its ethical framework, led by the principle of “victims first” — placing victims’ needs and demands at the heart of its work. The remaining principles include inclusivity and non-discrimination, transparency and internal accountability, respect for human rights, and neutrality and independence from political or partisan influence. The forum reaffirmed its commitment to building sustainable peace through justice.
Its strategic goals are organized around four key pillars: raising public awareness about transitional justice concepts and mechanisms; empowering and supporting victims psychologically and legally to ensure access to justice and redress; advocating with local and international actors to adopt transitional justice mechanisms and strengthen accountability; and supporting community reconciliation initiatives that engage local communities in crafting durable solutions.
Work Programs: Advocacy, empowerment, and capacity-building
During the meeting, the forum outlined its upcoming work programs, structured around three complementary tracks: advocacy, victims and survivors support, and capacity-building and training. The support program will offer legal and psychological assistance to victims, connect them with rehabilitation institutions, and empower them to become active social participants. The capacity-building program will include specialized workshops, training courses, and the development of educational materials and manuals on transitional justice, fostering a culture of justice and preparing qualified national practitioners. The forum also announced the formation of three working groups aligned with these programs to begin implementing its action plan and achieving its objectives.
Looking Ahead: Toward a national dialogue on transitional justice
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the importance of learning from international experiences in transitional justice. The forum announced that its next event will be a symposium on the Chilean experience in transitional justice, featuring international experts, marking the first joint activity for newly joined members. Finally, the management announced that membership registration will be temporarily closed, with plans to reopen it within six months to consolidate the forum’s structure and refine its strategic plans. The event concluded with an open discussion session, where participants’ questions were addressed by the forum’s leadership.