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UN delegate urges nationwide ceasefire and protection for women and girls in Yemen
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Summary
A representative speaking for Greece at the United Nations urged a sustainable ceasefire, expanded women’s participation in negotiations and immediate humanitarian access to aid the 9.6 million women and girls in need in Yemen, and condemned detention and reprisals against humanitarian and civil-society workers.
Representative of Greece, a delegate to the United Nations, told the Security Council on Oct. 26 that the decade-long conflict in Yemen has left 9,600,000 women and girls in need of humanitarian assistance and urged steps to protect their rights and safety.
The delegate called for "a sustainable and permanent nationwide ceasefire with a full, equal, safe, and meaningful participation of diverse groups of women at all stages of the negotiation process," and for a "renewed, inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under UN auspices" that respects a minimum 30% quota for women’s representation established by the national dialogue conference.
The statement emphasized that the humanitarian crisis is driven by food insecurity, climate change, water scarcity, internal displacement, restricted livelihood opportunities and weak health care, and said the worsening economy and a rise in female-headed households have pushed some women and girls into ‘‘dangerous survival mechanisms, including coerced prostitution, human trafficking, and child and early forced marriage.’’ The delegate added that about one-third of Yemeni girls are married before age 18 and that approximately 1,500,000 girls are deprived of education.
On humanitarian access, the delegate urged strict adherence to international humanitarian law and "the rapid, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid," and warned that restrictions on the ability of women humanitarian workers are unacceptable because women lead many of the country’s humanitarian nongovernmental organizations.
The representative commended the work of the UN special envoy for Yemen and UN missions, including support for quick-impact projects and demining, and praised civil-society women’s groups for evacuating civilians, safeguarding humanitarian access and advocating for the opening of roads and crossings.
The speaker condemned "arbitrary detention and abuses in custody of all humanitarian workers, UN personnel, diplomatic staff, political activists, journalists, civil society organization leaders, and human rights defenders in Houthi-controlled areas," and called for their "immediate and unconditional release." The delegate also "condemned reprisals against women human rights defenders."
On women’s freedom of movement, the statement demanded lifting restrictions that curtail autonomy and participation in public life, specifically citing male guardian (mahram) requirements in some areas and calling for their removal where they limit access to education and public services.
The delegate concluded by reiterating commitment to "the achievement of a sustainable lasting peace in Yemen, ensuring the protection, participation, and socioeconomic advancement of women and girls," and said the council would discuss the topic during the meeting.
