On International Women’s Day: Protecting women’s rights and empowering them is essential for achieving peace in Yemen.
Aden: March 8, 2026
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Mayyun Organization for Human Rights extends its respect and solidarity to women across the world, and to Yemeni women in particular, in recognition of their courage, resilience, and vital contributions to their communities despite the profound hardships caused by more than eleven years of ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Yemeni women have stood at the forefront of sustaining families and communities amid one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Their perseverance, leadership, and unwavering commitment to social cohesion have been indispensable in the face of widespread instability, economic collapse, and prolonged insecurity.
Yet Yemeni women continue to bear a disproportionate share of the conflict’s consequences. Deteriorating economic conditions, weakened social protection systems, and limited access to essential services have compounded their suffering. At the same time, many women have been subjected to serious human rights violations, discrimination, arbitrary detention, and abusive practices that undermine their dignity and fundamental freedoms.
In this context, Mayyun Organization for Human Rights calls on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to immediately end violations against women and to uphold their rights in accordance with national legislation and international human rights standards.
The organization specifically urges the Houthi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all Yemeni women arbitrarily detained in their prisons, particularly employees of United Nations agencies, international organizations, local civil society groups, and women activists who have been forcibly taken from their homes, workplaces, and public spaces.
Mayyun Organization also notes the appointment of three women to the Council of Ministers within the internationally recognized Yemeni government. While this represents an encouraging step, the organization stresses that far more comprehensive measures are needed to ensure the full political, economic, and social empowerment of women, remove legal and institutional barriers that restrict their participation, and guarantee their meaningful representation in decision-making positions.
Ensuring women’s rights and participation is not only a matter of justice but also a critical foundation for achieving sustainable peace, stability, and inclusive development in Yemen.
Mayyun Organization for Human Rights reaffirms its commitment to working alongside national and international partners to advance the protection of women’s rights and to support efforts aimed at creating a safe environment in which Yemeni women can live with dignity, security, and equal opportunity.
Mayyun Organization for Human Rights
Aden, Yemen
8 March 2026
