Women in Development and Peace – Ahmed Bajoaim
Yemeni women have achieved great and high-level achievements in diplomatic work over several years. Many women have been able to reach leadership and sovereign decision-making positions and have participated in international forums, where they have worthily represented Yemen by discussing many thorny Yemeni issues and their impact on the Arab and international levels, which is considered a great achievement for women in diplomacy, as they represent the true face of the peacebuilding process. Their presence in diplomatic work gives positive indications to the eyes of the whole world that Yemeni women have been able to establish themselves despite the obstacles.
Through this report, we shed light on the most prominent achievements made by women in the diplomatic field, whether internally or externally, while reviewing some of the stories of women in this regard. Empowering Yemeni women to work in the diplomatic field at the present time is a great achievement for women themselves, as they are one of the most affected groups by the conflict in the country since the beginning of 2015. They will also contribute to presenting the issue of Yemen through their international efforts and the United Nations councils to achieve lasting peace.
Achievements of Women in Diplomacy
Regarding the achievements of Yemeni women in diplomatic work, Petra News Agency stated in a detailed report on the achievements made by women, issued in October 2023, entitled “Yemeni Women Achieve More Gains Despite the Consequences of the Conflict”, that Yemeni women have received attention for decades; as they have been involved in political life and diplomatic work, in addition to economic, social and other fields.
The report indicated that women’s presence in the Yemeni parliament as a parliamentary deputy, obtaining many ministerial portfolios, and participating in the diplomatic corps for more than 20 years is a major achievement on the political and diplomatic levels in Yemeni society.
For more than two decades, Yemeni women have been able to break into many fields and sectors, and have helped expand the scope of their participation even in sensitive positions that were once the exclusive domain of men, such as military work and law, until they reached the judiciary; as they were able to reach leadership positions in the judiciary, through the appointment of 8 female judges in the Supreme Judicial Council for the first time in Yemen’s history, which was in 2023.
The presence of Yemeni women in diplomatic work is a remarkable phenomenon that arouses admiration and appreciation at the Arab and international levels; In the midst of the crises and challenges facing Yemen, Yemeni women have proven their ability to make change and achieve honorable achievements in various fields. Yemeni women have received wide acclaim from the Arab and international community for expanding their activities in various fields and sectors, whether locally or internationally, as their representation of government institutions and human rights organizations and diplomatic and political work confirms their leading role in building a better future.
The “Women’s Advisory Group of Experts and the Women’s Pact Group” represent an honorable model for the presence of Yemeni women in diplomatic work; The participation of many Yemeni women through the office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen confirms their ability to play an effective role in making peace and achieving stability in the country.
The researcher in international relations, Munir Al-Weber, explained that the involvement of Yemeni women in diplomatic work has increased during the past 12 years; which is an interesting result, given that conflict is a factor for decline rather than empowerment, and that it relates to diplomacy in its broad sense, and in its official and unofficial aspects. Official diplomacy is the management of relations between states or international organizations, through their accredited representatives, such as ambassadors, while unofficial diplomacy is a less obvious aspect to people, considering it the management of relations between non-governmental actors, such as civil society or academia or the media.
He added that many countries and international organizations interested in Yemeni affairs have adopted diplomatic strategies, with the participation of Yemeni women; as one of the means of resolving the conflict in Yemen. Therefore, and by way of example only, we recently see women involved a lot in non-governmental organizations, conferences, consultations, negotiations and peace-building efforts in Yemen.
In a related context, Nuha bin Suhailan, Executive Director of the Adalah Foundation Legal Development, said that the foundation worked to train and qualify girls in the diplomatic field, through the implementation of diplomatic programs and workshops that shed light on female models working in this field. Among the most prominent training programs implemented by the foundation in the diplomatic corps is the “United Nations Simulation Model in the City of Mukalla”, which was held in late February 2021, with the participation of 100 male and female trainees from all governorates of the republic, including 50% girls. It is a practical application that simulates the work of the United Nations, and the first model to be held in Yemen.
She also pointed out that the participants represent the roles of representatives of member states of the United Nations and their delegates, and they undergo training on discussing global issues and conducting negotiations and diplomatic work. They also nominate judges of the International Court of Justice and non-permanent members. The program is a model that simulates the current situation in the corridors of the United Nations, aiming to help participants understand the mechanisms of work of the United Nations and enhance the role of Yemeni youth in international decision-making and diplomatic work.
Nuha bin Suhailan stated that in 2022, the foundation implemented the “Yemen Model for the Simulation of the League of Arab States” conference with the participation of 50% of women in the city of Seiyun in Hadhramout.
The Executive Director of the Adalah Foundation, Bin Suhailan, added that the model supervised by the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Aden, and the National Council for US-Arab Relations, in which participants from all governorates of the country assume the roles of Arab diplomats; by assuming the roles of delegates of member states of the delegations; as the participants discuss the issues on the conference agenda. One of the most prominent objectives of the conference to simulate the Arab League is to enhance the spirit of young men and women in the political and diplomatic field. The foundation also implemented a discussion session on “Women in Yemeni Diplomacy” which hosted a number of Yemeni ambassadors to countries around the world.
Many women in Yemen have made great achievements in diplomatic work despite the country’s situation, such as Her Excellency Ambassador Mirvat Fadhl Mujalli, Yemen’s ambassador to Poland and Ukraine, and Ambassador Sahar Muhammad Ghanem, our country’s ambassador to Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, in addition to Ambassador Asmahan Abdul Hamid Al-Tuqi, the republic’s ambassador to Italy, and Yemen’s representative to the international organizations in the Italian capital Rome. In addition to these names, there are a large number of Yemeni women who have made inspiring and great achievements in the diplomatic field; on the local, regional and international levels.
Current Diplomatic Models
Among the Yemeni women who have achieved great and clear successes in diplomatic work in the current period that Yemen is experiencing is Sahar Muhammad Ghanem, our country’s ambassador to Netherlands, and a non-resident ambassador to Norway and Sweden, as well as a permanent representative of Yemen to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In addition, she works as Yemen’s governor to the Common Fund for Commodities, according to the website of Women Solidarity Network concerned with women’s affairs in Yemen.
The diplomat Sahar Ghanem held several positions before being appointed ambassador. She began her career with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and worked as a coordinator for the United Nations Population Fund project, which aims to empower Yemeni women and convey their voices to decision-makers, and she held the position of Advisor for Women and Youth Affairs in the Yemeni Prime Minister’s Office, and a member of many local and international networks, such as the Dutch program to empower women’s leadership in the Middle East and North Africa. Sahar participated as a speaker at the Oslo Peace Forum, which includes high-level peacemakers and experts from around the world.
As the website of the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Aden clarified in January 2017, the Polish President received the credentials of Yemen’s Ambassador, Dr. Mirvat Mujalli, as an ambassador and plenipotentiary extraordinary. In Yemen, this term signifies a diplomatic rank higher than that of regular ambassadors, denoting exceptional capabilities and tasks assigned by the country. Granting Dr. Mirvat the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary is a great honor for her, given her efforts, experience and influential political and diplomatic activity, which enabled her to obtain this rank in light of the conditions the country is witnessing, which has greatly affected the activities of Yemeni women.
Current Challenges
The researcher in international relations, Munir Al-Weber, explained that women diplomats in Yemen still present a model of perseverance, diligence and influence. They possess various skills that helped them achieve their dream. However, they still suffer from underrepresentation in the diplomatic process and foreign policy, and are also exposed to some gender discrimination, societal stereotypes, and work-life balance issues. In addition to the impact of the current situation in the country, which makes it difficult to perform diplomatic tasks in various aspects in the required manner, all of these issues are recognized as obstacles that prevent women from engaging extensively and comprehensively in diplomatic work.
For her part, Nuha bin Suhailan, Executive Director of the Adalah Foundation for Legal Development, listed some of the obstacles facing the empowerment of women in the diplomatic field, including: marginalization by some stakeholders of the role of women diplomats in some political and economic tasks in the countries of the world, and their exclusion from representing the country in international forums. The narrowness of the Yemeni socio-cultural thought that limits women’s work in all sectors, including diplomacy, in addition to the impact of the deteriorating economic situation, which constituted another obstacle to women’s engagement in diplomatic work, in addition to the suspension of some institutes and academies in qualifying women for political and diplomatic work.
Future Vision
Al-Weber referred to several proposals to enhance the status of Yemeni women in the diplomatic field, the most important of which is raising awareness and recognizing women’s contributions and achievements in the diplomatic field, and providing equal opportunities to support women in continuing education, training and career development in the diplomatic field and foreign policy, and strengthening women’s networks and their alliances in diplomacy, and enhancing cooperation and solidarity among them, as well as with other actors, such as civil society, academia, and the media.
He added that there is a prevailing belief that women have an excellent ability to negotiate and resolve disputes within society, which is particularly necessary in societies that are experiencing disputes such as Yemen; As there are many international and civil society organizations working in Yemen to employ and train women in this type of diplomacy, because of their belief in women’s abilities to resolve conflicts. This contributes to the rehabilitation of women’s capacities in various fields.
Bin Suhailan also pointed to the importance of activating and resuming the diplomatic institute, which was suspended due to the conflict. He proposed opening branches for it in all governorates and allocating a percentage for women’s attendance in the diplomatic field. This allocation should be implemented on the ground. Furthermore, he suggested opening up training opportunities for women in consulates and international organizations. These opportunities would enable university graduates to qualify and enhance their capabilities and experience in the diplomatic corps. This approach aims to bridge the gap today and to shed light on women’s participation in foreign policy.
Despite the many obstacles left by the armed conflicts between the warring parties since the beginning of 2015, there are successes and feminist models achieved by many Yemeni women in the diplomatic corps. Through their leadership positions in Yemeni embassies in many countries around the world, or their representation of prestigious positions in ministries and courts and other departments that represent the face of Yemen.