Mayyun Organization Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

27 November 2025 – Aden

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which begins on 25 November, marks an annual global event aimed at raising awareness of the gravity of gender-based violence and calling for action to confront it in all its forms. The campaign continues until 10 December — Human Rights Day — reaffirming that women are at the core of the global human rights framework.

This occasion arrives while Yemeni women continue to endure a worsening tragedy after ten years of war, as reflected in national indicators of both direct and indirect violence. One in every four women is subjected to various forms of daily violence, whether domestic, societal, or structural and institutional violence manifested through discrimination or denial of basic services.

The years of conflict have also witnessed cases of abduction and politically motivated detention of women, as well as restrictions on their movement. Thousands of women have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, leading to a significant rise in gender-based and sexual violence due to the collapse of protection institutions suspended by the war.

Military operations in civilian areas have increased the number of women killed or seriously injured, with many joining the lists of partial or permanent disability. The planting of landmines by the Houthi group in residential, agricultural, and grazing areas has caused numerous casualties among women, especially in rural communities.

The deterioration of economic conditions and the suspension of salaries have widened the circle of poverty, forcing many families to flee or migrate in search of livelihoods. A growing number of women have become sole breadwinners after losing their providers, while others have been pushed into begging in urban streets, where they face violence, harassment, exploitation, and trafficking.

In light of these alarming indicators, Mayyun emphasizes the urgent need to raise awareness, reactivate protection institutions, and adopt legislative and institutional measures that ensure an end to all forms of violence against women — not only during the 16-day campaign but throughout the entire year.

The organization calls on the internationally recognized Yemeni government and international partners to:

▪︎ Adopt a national strategy for protection from gender-based violence that reflects Yemen’s context and cultural sensitivities.
▪︎ Establish sustainable institutional structures capable of delivering protection services to all rural areas, especially front-line communities underserved by humanitarian interventions.
▪︎ Expand the establishment of shelter centers and psychosocial support services in governorates and districts, and provide mobile services for rural and front-line areas.
▪︎ Launch a nationwide awareness campaign involving the Ministry of Endowments, community and tribal leaders, and train local actors to ensure sustainable awareness programs integrated into educational institutions.
▪︎ Strengthen community initiatives and local success stories that support and protect women.

On this occasion, the organization welcomes the United Nations’ decision to adopt the theme “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls 2025,” given the rise of digital violence and online defamation against women in Yemen, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and the difficulty of controlling such abuses, along with the use of technology for blackmail and crimes violating dignity and honor.

Mayyun also expresses its full solidarity with women who remain in detention, landmine survivors, families of women who lost their lives, and those still waiting for justice, redress, and compensation — both material and moral.

The organization pays tribute to all women who continue their struggle to alleviate the suffering of others and protect them from violence through national and international mechanisms.

Mayyun calls on the Yemeni government to fulfill its international obligations and work seriously to ensure security and stability, build a safe and just society where women’s dignity is protected, and include women in political decision-making positions that shape the future of the country.

Mayyun affirms that responsibility today is both collective and historic, requiring genuine efforts to alleviate the suffering of women and achieve a just peace in which women, youth, and children — the groups most affected by the war and its consequences — are recognized as key stakeholders.

Issued by Mayyun Organization for Human Rights
27 November 2025 – Aden