Yemeni Women Journalists to Guard Against Human Rights Violations

“Empowering presswomen as journalists and [human rights] activists” has been the main objective of the Yemen Media Women Forum (MWF) for their Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grant project, commented Project Coordinator, Wedad Al Badawi.  In February 2009, thirty women journalists from eight Yemeni governorates attended a nine-day training session organized by MWF, designed to qualify them to be capable journalists in the media on the subjects of human rights and the rule of law.  Participants in the training enjoyed learning about human rights reporting and investigative journalism led by prominent civil society experts in the field.  At the training inauguration, the Yemeni Minister of Human Rights, Huda Al Ban, emphasized the Ministry’s partnership with civil society members and media women in human rights matters, especially those pertaining to women.

The trained women are expected to join forces to advocate for human rights issues. It is the first project of its kind in Yemen, where media women will form a network to support human rights issues in the media, Wedad commented.  These journalists are expected to produce professional articles on a human rights issue, to be evaluated by a committee of renowned journalists and activists.  In addition, they will continue to report effectively on human rights violations and advocate for change in their future coverage.

Wedad said that the project is intended to boost the local awareness of human rights, clearly illustrate the status of gender, and explain local and international laws on human rights.  Future steps will involve the evaluation of the journalists’ writings and further training on advocacy campaigns.

The event was extensively covered in the local press including Yemennews, Yemenat, Al-Ayyam, Sabanet, 26September, and Mayonews.