Hebah Mohammed – Women in Development and Peace
Yemeni women are a powerful and influential force in their society, and allowing them to fully and equally participate in sports is crucial for achieving development and progress. In reality, Yemeni women face numerous challenges in the field of sports, both before and after the conflict that the country has been experiencing. Despite these challenges, there are bright prospects and expectations for the future of Yemeni women in this field.
The challenges facing Yemeni women in sports revolve around social restrictions, customs, and traditions that confine and obstruct their potential. Many Yemeni women are unable to freely participate in sports and engage in athletic activities due to societal reservations and gender discrimination. This restricts opportunities for women to participate and develop personally and professionally in the field of sports.
Before and After the Conflict
Yemeni women are strong and enthusiastic personalities in the field of sports. They strive to achieve success and excellence in various sporting fields. However, the reality of Yemeni women in sports has undergone radical changes before and after the conflict that Yemen has been suffering from.
Amat Al-Salam Al-Faqih, a member of the board of directors of Al-Ahli Club in Sana’a, says: “Before the conflict, Yemeni women played an important role in sports. They participated in sporting events and local and international tournaments. They also enjoyed advanced rights such as attending matches, training at clubs, and participating in federations. There was a percentage of Yemeni women who were practicing sports professionally and achieving significant results in local and regional tournaments and competitions.”
She continues: “After the outbreak of the conflict, Yemeni women were significantly affected in the field of sports, with opportunities for participation and training declined. Clubs and sports facilities were destroyed and closed. Women’s sports were marginalized and suppressed. Many Yemeni women were unable to freely exercise their right to sports and achieve their athletic aspirations.”
She points out that the continuation of the conflict has increased the difficulties faced by Yemeni women in the field of sports. The lack of sports infrastructure, financial support, and training has negatively impacted opportunities for development and progress. However, there are still some persevering Yemeni women who are facing challenges and striving to participate in local and international sporting competitions.
In the same context, Captain Fatima Abdallah Al-Shami, a member of the technical management at the Olympic Committee, shared: “The reality of working women in the sports sector in Yemen before the conflict was more diverse and offered more opportunities in general. However, the current situation has seen a significant decline in opportunities for working women in this field. Despite that, I believe that the future will see positive changes; more opportunities will be available for women in the sports sector.”
Muhammad Al-Ahjari, Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee, confirms: “Before 2015, Yemeni women could participate extensively in many sporting activities, including individual and team sports. At that time, there was a continuous increase in the number of women and girls joining sports clubs and schools. There was ongoing support from the relevant authorities to encourage women’s participation in sports.”
He also mentioned that during that time, women’s sports spread to many governorates, including Sana’a, Aden, Taiz, Abyan, Lahj, Hodeidah, Hadhramaut, Ibb, Dhamar, and Hajja. The sports they participate in include table tennis, volleyball, handball, basketball, judo, karate, equestrian, athletics, shooting, archery, wushu, and chess (a mental sport).
He explained that there were internal tournaments organized at the governorate level, and then elite tournaments that brought together the most prominent players from different governorates. These tournaments were held in one city as a women’s sports gathering. Yemeni women athletes participated in Arab, Asian, and international tournaments, achieving positive results in some games, and even reached participation in the Arab, Asian, Islamic, and Olympic Games. This is a great achievement, and Yemeni athletes have competed with the world’s elite in sports.
He also pointed out that after 2015, women’s sports in Yemen were affected by new challenges and difficult circumstances as a result of the conflicts and crises the country witnessed. Opportunities for women and girls to participate in sports declined, the sports infrastructure was affected, and the necessary financial and organizational support to enhance women’s sports decreased.
Challenges and Achievements
Regarding the main challenges hindering Yemeni women’s participation in sports, Al-Faqih said: “In our current reality, we find ourselves in a society that suffers from major challenges regarding gender equality. This society is characterized by a masculine nature that causes women’s roles to be inadequate and restricted, especially in the field of sports. Despite this, women athletes have witnessed some notable achievements with their participation in international sporting events.”
She pointed out in her talk that these achievements are like bright spots emerging from a reality that suffers from restrictions and limitations. Many women athletes find it difficult to travel abroad and participate in global sports competitions due to the social and cultural restrictions imposed on them, in addition to gender discrimination, and the lack of support and opportunities available to them.
Captain Fatima Al-Shami confirms that women athletes in Yemen face a negative societal view towards their participation in sports. This view comes from social customs and traditions that create an obstacle preventing women from engaging in sports. Despite that, some women leaders have achieved tangible achievements in creating opportunities for women’s presence in the sports field.
Al-Faqih believes that the achievements of some Yemeni women athletes in winning local and international championships reflect the strong will and determination of women athletes to overcome challenges and achieve success, despite the difficulties they face.
Empowering Women in Sports
To enhance the presence of women and integrate them into the sports sector, Captain Amat Al-Salam Al-Faqih emphasizes the need for women-only sports clubs affiliated with the government sector, under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. She also highlights the importance of training specialized female coaches in Yemen to meet the needs of women athletes, providing appropriate training to improve the professional level of female sports coaches in Yemen, and ensure the provision of high-quality guidance and training.
She also emphasizes the need for Yemeni women to have opportunities to participate in local tournaments at the district and governorate levels, and thus expand the scope of participation in external tournaments. This will allow women athletes to gain experience and compete at the national and international levels.
Meanwhile, Captain Luai Sabri, Second Deputy Chairman of the Olympic Committee, says: “When awareness of all kinds improves among decision-makers in Yemen, women athletes will have a leading and important role in society. In the past, we were pioneers among Arab countries in many sports. But as a result of the cultural winds imposed due to conflicts, our progress declined, and some individuals’ mentalities lagged; to the point where women’s sports became forbidden in their view, religiously and socially.”
In the same context, Fatima Al-Shami pointed out: “Mechanisms for improving the role of women in making decisions related to sports should include the creation of laws and regulations that enhance women’s participation in sports activities and empower them to participate effectively in decision-making related to them. This requires strengthening transparency and equality of opportunity, and enhancing women’s participation in sports decision-making structures.”
She added: “To enhance women’s participation in sports and ensure their integration into this sector, we must focus on engaging those interested and specialized in sports in all federations, clubs, and sports facilities, by creating a strong base that supports women’s sports and encourages their participation in external tournaments in the future, which could become mandatory.”
She noted that before all of this, it is necessary to provide support and appropriate training to women interested in participating in sports. Training programs and specialized workshops targeting women should be provided to help them develop the technical and leadership skills needed for effective participation in sports. This can be achieved by forming special training teams for women.
Al-Faqih stresses the need to develop plans and programs to empower women in the sports sector. These plans and programs should be developed in cooperation between the women’s sector and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in addition to plans for training specialized female coaches and developing infrastructure for women’s sports.
Al-Faqih also believes that no sports are prohibited for women in Yemen, but women should be empowered and encouraged to participate more actively in sports. The Olympic Committee and related authorities should work to provide support and encouragement to women athletes and provide them with appropriate opportunities in all sports.
Women in Decision-Making
“To achieve the integration of women in the sports field and involve them in decision-making, we must overcome the bias that exists towards men in this field; some consider it to be a male-dominated domain. For example, a female activity manager can be appointed in federations and sports clubs to activate her role and develop women’s sports.” This is according to Captain Fatima Al-Shami, a member of the technical management of the Olympic Committee.
She continues: “We in the Olympic Committee have started taking steps in this direction in cooperation with the Women’s Sector in the Ministry of Youth and Sports. We have organized training courses for the women’s sector, for physical education graduates working in the sports field, and for players on the national teams, aiming to expand the base of women’s sports. Consequently, in the future, we will be able to participate internationally with female cadres as coaches and administrators in women’s delegations.”
She points out that one of the efforts that can be taken is to remove the restrictions imposed on some sports, such as football, which is still banned for women in Yemen despite being an ancient sport, and certain martial arts. Additionally, reopening clubs dedicated to women, such as the Women’s Union Club and the Balqis Club, and promoting interest in women’s sports within sports federations.
Regarding the Olympic Committee’s plans, Al-Shami says: “Our plans in the Olympic Committee aim to strengthen and develop the role of women in the sports field. We are working to increase the representation of women in sports federations to 30% of attendance, although the International Olympic Committee sets a minimum of 50% for women’s representation in any international sports event or participation.”
She continues: “As part of the implemented plans, we have included 30% in the international training courses organized by sports federations, in addition to refereeing courses, and we are also working to provide a base of active and interested women in the sports field; to enhance their role in federations and sports clubs.”
The reality of women’s sports in Yemen is a major challenge that requires joint efforts to achieve equality and provide fair opportunities in the sports field. It is also necessary to work hard to change the inherited patriarchal culture and achieve real progress in empowering Yemeni women and achieving their sporting ambitions.