Hebah Mohammed – Women in Development and Peace
In diverse diaspora environments, the stories and challenges of Yemeni women living between hopes of desired official support and the harsh reality of neglect converge. These strong women face unique challenges in new environments, requiring resilience and a search for support to overcome the obstacles in their path. This report will address the reality of Yemeni women in the diaspora, examining the gap between the hopes for official support and the harsh reality of neglect they experience.
Official Entities and Their Absent Roles
In Yemeni diaspora communities, the importance of official bodies and their pivotal role in guiding and organizing the lives of the Yemeni diaspora scattered across the world is evident. However, a clear picture emerges of the absence of these bodies and the lack of a tangible role in providing necessary services and support to migrants. This evident void reflects significant challenges facing Yemenis in the diaspora, necessitating a reassessment of the role of official bodies and the need to activate them in a way that meets the needs and aspirations of the Yemeni community abroad.
Activist and journalist Widad Al-Badwi says, “In the Yemeni diaspora environment, the absence of official Yemeni bodies in providing services to both men and women in diaspora countries is evident. Individuals sometimes face difficulties in obtaining official documents at embassies. The levels of cooperation between embassies vary; while some are cooperative, others are not”.
She continues, “The government ignores many Yemenis, both men and women, who have applied for asylum in European countries. They lose interest in Yemeni embassies once they obtain citizenship in the countries where they live. As a result, the government lacks the provision of services or facilities to Yemenis, as embassies cannot provide the necessary support except for certain powers of attorney or official documents.”
Dr. Raga Al-Mas’abi, President of the Human Rights Association, also shared her thoughts with us, saying, “Unfortunately, official bodies in Yemen remain absent from providing any effective support or services. The role of Yemeni embassies abroad is almost non-existent, as they do not provide any noteworthy services to Yemeni migrants, whether men or women.”
She points out that this unfortunate neglect by official bodies towards the needs and demands of Yemeni citizens, both domestically and abroad, is one of the most prominent challenges facing Yemeni society today. The lack of basic services and institutional support has significantly impacted people’s livelihoods and their ability to recover from successive crises.
She concluded by saying, “We hope that the official bodies will move urgently to restore their role in serving citizens, especially women, and provide them with the necessary support, both inside and outside the country. This is essential to empower Yemenis and improve their deteriorating conditions in light of the multiple crises they face.”
Empowering Yemeni Women in the Diaspora
Media professional Iman Ragih, Head of the Media Committee in Egypt, says, “Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are undertaking a set of procedures and facilitations aimed at empowering and supporting Yemeni women in diaspora environments. The Ministry is a body that pays great attention to women’s issues, as evidenced by Yemen’s signing and ratification of most international conventions and treaties related to women’s rights. Among these important conventions are the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, in addition to other conventions and covenants aimed at protecting and promoting women’s rights.”
She continues, “The previous outputs indicate the need to affirm the rights of Yemeni women at all levels: politically, economically, socially, and culturally. Their rights include access to social services and social security, as well as necessary care. Their rights also include demanding equality, non-discrimination, and protection from violence, in addition to the opportunity to assume leadership roles and participate effectively and fully in decision-making on an equal basis in all fields.”
Regarding strategies for empowering women in the diaspora, Ragih points out, “The focus on strategies for empowering women in diaspora environments includes achieving goals of enhancing their participation at all levels in decision-making positions. These strategies aim to strengthen women’s leadership capabilities, raise awareness of their rights, and encourage their participation in political, social, and economic work.”
She states that these strategies include providing training and qualifications, raising awareness of women’s rights, and encouraging the establishment of platforms for their participation in decision-making. Therefore, relevant authorities must adopt and implement policies that promote equality and enhance the role of women in decision-making processes at both the local and global levels.
Financial Support and Responsible Entities
Ragih says, “Providing financial support and grants to Yemeni women in diaspora environments is crucial. It plays a vital role in their lives on several fronts. Financial support helps empower women to pursue education and develop their skills, whether through scholarships or student loans, which contributes to enhancing their chances of success in the labor market.”
She adds, “Yemeni women need social care, and this is where financial support is critical for implementing social care programs and improving their quality of life. However, in reality, Yemeni women still face difficulties in meeting their basic needs in diaspora environments.”
She explains in the context of her talk that the entities responsible for providing essential services to Yemeni women in diaspora environments are often civil society organizations, which play a major role in providing support and care to women living in these environments. These organizations work to provide the necessary financial and social support to help women achieve independence and improve their living conditions.
To improve the situation of Yemeni migrant women, Raeda Al-Dhabhani, Deputy Head of the Justice Office in Cairo, says, “It is necessary to conduct a census of women in the diaspora, carry out case studies on the reality of each woman, assess needs, and address those needs through urgent intervention from the international community, including organizations and governments. Creating more job and learning opportunities, working to involve women in political and peace decision-making, and achieving development through communication with the country’s official bodies and women’s organizations to form alliances in the diaspora are crucial steps”.
In the same context, Sahar Al-Lawda’i, a distinguished Yemeni visual artist who organizes art exhibitions in America and other countries, believes that the role of embassies and foreign ministries in supporting the arts typically depends on the level of interest from officials. If the ambassador is interested in fine arts, the artist may receive extensive support. However, if the ambassador is not interested or unaware of the importance of art, the artist may not receive the required support.
She continues, “The arts suffer from a lack of funding due to limited resources and capabilities, and some ambassadors lack salaries in some countries. It is worth noting that the presence of a cultural attaché in embassies can contribute to enhancing cultural and artistic events, but they must have an effective impact.”
She adds, “Despite the importance of moral support, artists need financial support because most efforts are self-funded and costs are high. Some ambassadors provide support through their presence at art exhibitions, and some ambassadors care and provide moral and material support. However, we are still looking for foreign sponsors to support these events and art exhibitions.”
In this sensitive context, the role that official bodies must play in providing support and services to Yemeni expatriates, both women and men, becomes increasingly important. This strengthens the cohesion of this community, which is exposed to many challenges and difficulties in diaspora environments.
