Yemen Female Leadership Calls for Action
Official Press Release: The Hague, May 26th 2011
Alert 2011
Female Leadership: Motherland (Watan) Calls for Action
Yemini women’s coalition takes lead to ask support from International community to bring Security, Peace and Democracy in Yemen
Despite the Yemini revolt and the pressure that the US, government, EU and GCC have put against President Saleh’s government he remains defiant in his decision to rule the country. Yesterday he refused for the fifth time to sign the Golf Deal for Peaceful Transfer of power within 30 days. During the past four months uprising has become a nation-wide phenomenon causing threat and challenges to the command and control machinery of President Saleh. Women have become the direct victim of state as the president declared women’s political participation un-Islamic, and improper to the Yemini culture and value system. The President’s words and actions have recently resulted in violence and abuse against women demonstrators. “This situation is causing inhuman conditions especially for the Yemini women,” stated Wameedh Shakir, spokeswoman of Watan, Women’s Coalition in Yemen. This prohibits a peaceful democratic transition the people of Yemen are requesting.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Obama administration is "deeply disappointed" by President Saleh's refusal to sign the accord, saying the Yemeni leader "is turning his back on his commitments and disregarding the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people." Furthermore the EU condemns Saleh’s repeated failure to sign up to the GCC sponsored initiative, resulting in the Council and the EU Member States to review their policies towards Yemen. Members of the international community are beginning to address this urgency and make it apparent that change is imminent to ensure security, peace and democracy for the citizens of Yemen.
“Access to water, food, health-care and basic necessities is a struggle and increasing in difficulty each day, especially for women and their families. We the women of Watan (motherland) call upon the international community to stand-up and support the call of the Yemini people to end violence, insecurity in Yemen and help us get rid of the tyranny of Saleh.” Female leaders in Yemen are issuing a call of urgency for all concerned, opposition parties, peaceful demonstrators, organized and unorganized groups and entities, city dwellers and villagers, all adults and youth, irrespective of your profession and sex, to come out and take to the streets and demonstrate the power of peaceful collective protests. Through the collaboration of active protesters and mobilization of all citizens and networks of people across the country to strengthen their voice it will push for a peaceful transition towards democracy and gender equality. Gender Concerns endorses the demand from Watan and the women of Yemen, and supports the transition of a more balanced gender society.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Rotteveel
Gender Concerns International
Phone: 00 31 (070) 4445082
Laan van Meerdervoort 70 2517 AN, The Hague
Email: rachel@genderconcerns.org Site: http://www.genderconcerns.org