LocationsPeacebuilding network supports inclusivity in Yemen
December 10, 2023
Peacebuilding network stakeholders and members at a training in Aden, Yemen
When building momentum towards peace, ensuring women’s participation is essential. The UN Peace Support Facility (UN PSF) promotes inclusivity during peace dialogues by empowering women and building their capacity on gender mainstreaming and project planning.
With technical and financial support from the UN PSF, the Women Research and Training Center (WRTC) at Aden University established a Peacebuilding Network in 2022. The network promotes the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and advocates for women’s participation in peace processes through trainings, workshops and lectures at the university. To foster general support for both the WPS Agenda and women’s participation, both women and men take part. There are around 100 network members and thousands of stakeholders.
Meet Ahlam Saleh, a lawyer and the Vice-Chairperson of the Community Mediation Committee in the Khormaksar District of Aden. Ahlam’s belief in the importance of empowering women and including them in peace processes and mediation efforts influenced her decision to join the peacebuilding network.
"I was able to use the skills and knowledge that I gained as a member of the peacebuilding network to contribute to building peace locally."
As a lawyer, Ahlam takes on pro bono cases to help the women in her community who cannot afford legal services.
“I apply what I learn as a peacebuilding network member in my job as a lawyer.”
Marina Thabet, a community advocate from Aden, Yemen, is also a member of the peacebuilding network.
“The peacebuilding network works to address many of the misconceptions around ‘gender equality’.”
For Marina, fostering intercultural understanding, tolerance and mutual respect is key to achieving peace.
“I was inspired by the peacebuilding network activities to design and work on a project that uses Adenain folklore as a tool to promote a culture of peace.”
Dr. Fayzan Ben Naam is the Vice-Chairperson of the peacebuilding network from Abyan. He is a graduate of the Women Research and Training Center and a trainer.
“One of the things that I like about the peacebuilding network is that most of its members and stakeholders are youth.”
Dr. Fayzan organizes trainings to share the knowledge that he gained from the peacebuilding network with his fellow community members in Abyan.
“Very often people do not really know what ‘gender equality and equity’ means, they think of it as something bad, as something that goes against our culture."
Afrah Al-Hmeqani, also a member of the peacebuilding network, is a journalist, Deputy Chairperson for the Women and Children in Community Committee and Director of the Office of Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) in Sira, Aden.
“I use my voice as a journalist to promote and advocate for peace in Yemen.”
“Despite being a woman with disability, I am determined to be a positive influence on those around me through my writing that aims at raising awareness on the role of women as contributors to peace.”
The UN PSF supports the peace process led by the Office of the Secretary General's Special Envoy to Yemen. Since 2019, the UN PSF has implemented upstream and downstream interventions across Yemen to support the national process towards peace, while accelerating local efforts towards peace.
The UN PSF is supported by generous funding from the European Union, the German Cooperation, and the Government of Norway.
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