Women gain ground as activists, but some question the extent of progress

Recently, the number of female activists in Yemen has increased, largely as a result of the 2011 peaceful revolution. Many women have emerged as political and human rights leaders.  

Although the media focused on the role of Yemeni females during protests and sit-ins at change squares across Yemen, many believe their role is still lacking, despite growing numbers.

Thekra Al-Wahedi, a human rights activist, said there were few female activists before the revolution due to the lack of self-confidence and absence of opportunities for the advancement of women.

Al-Wahedi said that women should be empowered to understand their role, focus on social issues and find suitable solutions for them.   She also is a proponent of women’s solidarity, and recognizing that all females have differnt abilities.

Elham Al-Hadabi, an activist for the Women Journalists Without Chains Organization, said that although females continue to emerge as activists, their activities are limited.  During the revolution, their roles were mainly restricted to registering and documenting what happened she said.

“Currently, there are many female activists, but their roles are still weak. Violations continue and women should be able to exert great efforts in several fields,” Al-Hadabi said.

On the other hand, Abdulrahman Barman, a lawyer for the HOOD Organization for Defending Human Rights and Freedoms, said it is unjust to say women did not play an important role during the revolution.   He boasted that women’s wide participation in demonstrations amazed the entire world.

Barman added that there are many female activists in civil society organizations who play great roles in defending human, women and children’s rights and are very efficient at organizing empowerment activities.  


Self-seeking Motives

Some criticize the performance of female activists in civil society organizations, saying that they are driven by a desire to make money, not a commitment to specific causes.

Basma Al-Asbahi, a journalist, recognized the important contributions of women during the revolution, but asserted that she witnessed too many working for their own personal gain.

“I heard many female activists gained fame, but I don’t see any of their roles [currently] in society,” she said.

Al-Asbahi claims there are many forums and organizations that organize workshops and training courses only to make money, without teaching or enlightening the people who join them.


Equality between men and women

Azooz Al-Samei, an activist in the Taiz’s Freedom Square, said that most of Yemen’s laws, particularly the civil ones, assert the importance of equality between men and women. However, many dominant prejudices are a result of prevailing social factors and traditions.

He added that it is clear women have began to liberate themselves from socially-imposed shackles. There is a noticeable number of female activists in different fields who have proved their ability to participate in political, legal and civil activities, he said.

“Women in Yemen participated effectively in the revolution and were appreciated by the international community…[This] asserted that women played a great role in and supported the escalating momentum of the revolution in Taiz’s Freedom Square.”

He pointed out that women in Taiz’s Freedom Square were the hallmark of change in the country, calling Taiz the “womb of the revolution.”  Al-Samei recognized women’s participation in the well-known, “Life March” that marched from Taiz to Sana’a on foot, covering 260 kilometers.

Women are eager to learn

Sadeq Al-Hamadi, a writer, believes that the number of educated females in Yemen has increased because they are eager to finish their studies in alongside men.

Al-Hamadi said the 2011 revolution provided an opportunity for women to denounce many prejudices against them like male dominance in society.

He said that prominent women in Yemen emerged after the revolution like the female activist Tawakl Karman.

Karman was the first Arab woman to receive the Noble Peace Prize.

Source: Yemen Times