The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies hosted a virtual meeting that connected members of the Yemen Peace Forum (YPF), including youth groups and civil society organizations, with Yemen’s Minister of State, Waleed Al-Abara. During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the government’s experience engaging with international human rights mechanisms, the challenges facing civil society, and the government’s key priorities at this stage.
Al-Abara explained that the Yemeni government’s efforts are currently focused on three main priorities: 1) addressing the repercussions of regional escalation, particularly with regard to supply chains and the import of essential goods; 2) ensuring the continuity of public services; and 3) maintaining regular salary payments, currency stability, and tackling Yemen’s liquidity crisis.
The discussion also explored how to strengthen civil society’s role and examined the effects of international developments on the situation in Yemen. It looked into the intersection of international political interests and human rights. Additionally, the conversation addressed the government’s approach to communicating with the public and the media during times of increased violations related to the conflict.
Al-Abara affirmed that the political leadership and the government place special emphasis on supporting civil society by safeguarding freedom of expression, the right to establish organizations, and the protection of those working in the sector. He noted that restoring its effectiveness requires five key steps: adopting a rights-based approach in discourse and practice, strengthening governance, building partnerships and networks with the government, engaging with donors on equal footing, and working toward the localization of humanitarian action in line with the 2016 Istanbul Agreement.
The meeting forms part of a series of discussions aimed at enhancing dialogue between decision-makers, youth, and civil society organizations by creating an open space for direct engagement and for understanding the government’s perspectives on various national issues
