Wednesday, August 23, Mukalla – The youth component of the Yemen Peace Forum (YPF) organized a panel discussion in Mukalla, Hadramawt, focusing on the role of art in preserving historical memory.
Attended by prominent artists and local figures from Hadramawt governorate, the session provided the opportunity to discuss the role of art and culture in building bridges of communication, fostering a culture of peace and respect for human rights, and preserving historical memory in Yemen.
This is the second YPF session organized under the theme of ‘Art and Culture’ as part of a wider initiative to advocate for justice and reconciliation, and fuel interest in narrative art. The first panel discussion, held in March, focused on the role of artists within the Yemeni diaspora in preserving historical memory.
Narrative art can be a powerful vehicle for self-expression and social critique and also serve as documentation of human rights violations. The sessions provide Yemeni artists with the space to share their experiences, knowledge, and ideas on how art can promote justice and reconciliation in post-conflict Yemen, and a venue to review work from countries in similar contexts to Yemen.
A report will capture all the findings and recommendations put forward by the participants.
The Yemen Peace Forum initiative is a track II youth and civil society platform that seeks to both invest in building and empowering the next generation of Yemeni youth and civil society actors and to engage them in critical national issues. It also aims to localize the peace process by bridging the gap between youth and civil society actors and national and international decision-makers, and creating platforms for local voices to influence policies and decisions related to the peace process in Yemen.
The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies is an independent think tank that seeks to foster change through knowledge production with a focus on Yemen and the surrounding region. The Center’s publications and programs, offered in both Arabic and English, cover political, social, economic, and security-related developments, aiming to impact policy locally, regionally, and internationally.
