28 November 2023 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Yemen and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) of the Republic of Korea have signed a new agreement to empower women justice professionals and support justice service delivery among vulnerable communities in Yemen. KOICA has provided a generous US$ 4 million to support security and justice services in Aden and Mukalla through the new project.

New interventions build on UNDP’s ongoing support to governance and rule of law programming in Yemen to foster sustainable recovery. The project will strengthen the capacity of women rule of law professionals through joint trainings with government and civil society partners, expand women-friendly spaces at rule of law institutions, including police stations, define focus on rule of law policy frameworks, and support the Women Studies Center at the University of Aden. Initiatives will also facilitate grassroots justice problem-solving led by women paralegals and lawyers under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). In partnership with local authorities, women protection plans will be developed and advocated for, to ensure sustainable outcomes within communities. 

“This new partnership with KOICA will help scale-up development programming in Yemen to address fragilities such as access to justice for women, reaching beyond immediate and short-term interventions.  Together, we are supporting women’s meaningful participation in justice service delivery, contributing to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Yemen,” says UNDP Yemen Resident Representative Zena Ali Ahmad. 

“The Republic of Korea, through KOICA, is pleased to launch this project together with UNDP, which aims to empower women and strengthen rule of law. We look forward to this project leading to sustainable peace and development in Yemen in the long run,” said His Excellency Mr. DO Bong-kae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Yemen.

“As KOICA continues to expand its collaboration with UNDP in the MENA region, we are looking forward to our newest project with UNDP in Yemen. The great aspect of this project is that it weaves in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus strategy as it concentrates on inclusive gender justice as a catalyst for strengthening justice systems, fostering social cohesion, and contributing to conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts within Yemen,” said Mr. SEO Dongsung, KOICA Country Director, based in Amman, Jordan.

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