Seminar: Why does Yemen struggle with internal and external conflicts?

Public seminar about the conflicts in Yemen and how to assist Yemen’s efforts in moving forward

Time and place: 18 June from 10 – 13:00 at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Wilders Plads, 8K, Nordskov meeting room, 1403 Copenhagen K.
Register here.

On 18 June, the Institute for Human Rights, Kvinfo and International Media Support are organising a public seminar on the dire situation in Yemen. The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate. The country’s Minister for Human Rights has said that nine million Yemenis are in pressing need of humanitarian aid, with the southern cities of Aden, Taez and Dhale lacking electricity, water, fuel, medical supplies and food. These cities have been the location of continued fighting between Houthis and Saleh loyalists against pro-government armed groups. Al Qaeda has also recently expanded its reach in southern Yemen, taking control of a major airport and an oil export terminal two weeks after it seized the nearby city of Al Mukalla. Saudi-led coalition air strikes continue in the area.

The Yemeni President Hadi and his Vice President. Khaled Bahah, are in exile in Saudi Arabia, where a National Dialogue Conference for the Yemeni political forces is taking place in Riyadh. Houthi and Saleh loyalist parties have not participated in the discussions, although the ruling General People’s Congress Party is present. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for a cease-fire and proposed moving the dialogue from Riyadh to Geneva from mid-May. The Houthis was expected to participate in the renewed talks, but now the Geneva dialogue postpone of indefinite.  The Secretary General has also initiated the selection process of a new UN envoy to Yemen, as the current envoy, Jamal Bin Omar, resigned in the wake of Saudi allegations that he was appeasing the rebel side.

Programme

  • Opening: DIHR’s Deputy Executive Director, Eva Grambye
  • ‘Recent political development in Yemen by Siris Hartkorn, Political Analyst.
  • End of transition process; what hopes for women’s rights? by Amal Albasha
  • The role of media in the context of the ongoing conflict and its future resolution by Sara Zawqari, Radio host at Yemen Times Radio
  • Houthies – on the path towards national dialogue? by Ali Abukhati, Houthies expert
  • Yemen, Iran and Saudi Arabia: A Power Struggle in the Gulf by Dr. Hanna Ziadeh, DIHR
  • Discussion
  • Networking (Lunch will be provided)

The seminar will be an opportunity to gain insight into this conflict and to discuss how Denmark and the international community can assist Yemen’s efforts to move forward.  It will provide a platform for discussion on the current conflict with both Danish and Yemeni actors. Recent political and human rights developments in Yemen will be on the agenda, addressing both the internal armed conflict and the air campaign by the Saudi-led coalition.

The speakers will consider questions related to the absence of a functioning state. Some of the core issues to be considered are:

  • What are the basic human rights conditions in Yemen?
  • What are the challenges related to transitional justice initiatives after the 2011 uprising?
  • How is the current conflict transforming gender balances?
  • What are women’s roles in it?
  • What is the Yemeni media’s role in the current situation?
  • What are the exile government’s initiatives and actions?
  • What are the regional power conflict roles in this conflict?

The seminar will be held in Arabic and English. Interpretation will be provided. After the seminar, there will be a networking event. Lunch will be provided. Register here.  For more information, please contact Andreas Sugar, IMS, as@mediasupport.org.

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