As a result of Houthi repression, Yemenis reduce "peace" to freedom of expression and movement
English - Thursday 11 May 2023 الساعة 10:23 am
Aden, NewsYemen:
The Sana'a Center for Studies said that eight years of war raging in Yemen, and its dire consequences for people's lives, have redefined the concept of peace among citizens and their perceptions of the entire process.
He added, in a research study, that years of failed negotiations allowed the warring parties to monopolize the peace talks, significantly excluding women at the local and national levels, despite the fact that they are at the forefront of efforts to mitigate the repercussions of the war on Yemenis.
He pointed to the similarity of Yemenis' definitions of the concept of peace, with some differences based on the regions to which they belong, as the definitions of the participants in the research focused mainly on security and stability, freedom of expression and movement, meeting basic needs, coexistence rooted in the Islamic faith, and preserving dignity.
He explained, "The definitions of peace by women and men were similar, but some participants from Sana'a governorate (in which the Houthis impose severe restrictions on societal behavior and movement) summarized freedom of expression and movement more than is the case in other governorates."
In Aden, “the most prominent definition of peace was the desire for “peaceful coexistence and rejection of racism and sectarianism,” according to the research study.
The research concluded that religious discourse plays a role in empowering or inciting women, pointing to some restrictions imposed on women, including: restrictions imposed on travel and movement (especially the forbidden policy), and gender segregation in public life practices.
He recommended that all local and international bodies adopt a more comprehensive and bottom-up approach that relies on popular voices in peacebuilding, and encourages the integration of women's daily practices into comprehensive peacebuilding efforts.
