MEPI in Yemen

Ongoing MEPI Programs

The following provides descriptions of ongoing programs in Yemen, as well as a list of Regional Programs in which Yemeni organizations or individuals participate.

Yemen Programs

Yemen Women Union

Women Preachers Promote Yemeni Women's Political Rights - While Islam treats women and men as moral equals, Muslim women remain challenged by social and cultural barriers that hinder their equal political participation, ostensibly in the name of religion.   Through this project, the Yemeni Women Union (YWU) will first train 10-15 women preachers from each of 10 governorates, raising their awareness about the importance of differentiating between religion and custom.  In the process, participants will explore women’s political rights under Islam and receive instruction on the principles of democracy and human rights.  Two women preachers from each group will then attend a 4-day forum together. 

The discussion forum will be facilitated by an international expert on the rights of women under Islam, and how they are affected by traditional views of women and gender roles and the applicability of democracy in Muslim societies.   The forum participatns will also receive one-day of training on internet research skills. The YWU will summarize the discussion sessions outlining both the material presented as well as participants' reactions to it.  These leading women preachers will then engage in further activities (including radio talks shows) to expand awareness of the results of the project to the general public.  

Democracy School

Democracy and Human Rights Training for Yemen’s Future Judges and Lawyers - For Democracy to function as intended, the laws passed by elected legislators must be respected and independently upheld by the judiciary; by judges who apply and interpret laws without violating universal human rights.  Further, as advocates for individuals citizens, lawyers must understand their clients’ rights and ensure they are respected in the judicial process.   This project will provide instruction to ground the functions of future Yemeni judges and lawyers in democracy and its requisite respect for universal human rights.  The Democracy School will lead interactive training workshops and mock trials for future lawyers studying at the Sharia and Law College, and for future judges studying at the Higher Judicial Institute.  The Democracy School will convey the key components of democracy and international human rights standards to students from both institutions.  Instructors from both institutions will also participate in the sessions.  The training content and materials will be compiled into an instructional booklet for the participants’ future reference, and for the instructors’ future use with subsequent classes of students.  

Women Journalists without Chains 

Journalists against Corruption - In 2006, Yemen passed a new Anti-Corruption Law, and in 2007 established a National Anti-Corruption Committee.  This project will empower the press as a watchdog to ensure the new law and committee translate into actual progress against corruption.  To accomplish this, WJWC will form a committee of journalists and editors; make them experts on the Anti-Corruption Law and the Anti-Corruption Committee; and empower them with investigative reporting knowledge and skills.  The members of the “Journalists Against Corruption Committee” (JACC), will write and publish investigative articles on corruption and/or anti-corruption efforts.  WJWC will help the JACC produce and publicize a summary report and analysis of anti-corruption efforts since passage of the Anti-corruption Law and Anti-Corruption Committee, and present its findings to Parliament and the Government.  In addition to the report, the project will produce a “Journalists Against Corruption Handbook” and an “Investigative Reporting Manual” for the on-going use and reference of the JACC and all Yemeni journalists.

SOUL

Strengthening Women’s NGO Advocacy and Operations in the Governorate of Marib - Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should not only serve community social, economic, and educational needs, they should also organize and empower citizens to seek governmental support, services, and policies that are responsive to those needs.  NGOs should not just serve citizens, they should mobilize them.  Through this two-phase project, SOUL will strengthen the ability of 15 women NGOs in the governorate of Marib to mobilize citizens, engage government, and advocate for the needs and rights of the people of their communities:  Phase one will provide participant NGOs training and resources essential to strengthening their operations and capacity.  Phase two will provide training on effective advocacy campaigns; including effective lobbying of municipal councils and government institutions, and how to garner public support.   Both phases will include examples of best practices from other Yemeni NGOs.

Arab Human Rights Foundation

Women’s Rights Awareness Week for High School Boys - Leading up to a declared "Women's Rights and Equality Awareness Week" in 20 boys high schools, the Arab Human Rights Foundation (AHRF) will train the schools' principals on women's rights and equality, drawing on the Quran, Sharia, Yemeni law, and International Standards.  During the training, principals will contribute ideas for the content of a brochure to be distributed to students, and a poster to be used on their schools’ campuses.  The trained principals will, with the support of an AHRF trainer, then provide training for all Social Studies teachers in their high schools.  During the declared "Women's Rights and Equality Awareness Week", the women's rights and equality posters will be hung all over school campuses and each trained teacher will deliver a one-hour lesson to all their students on women's rights and equality, and distribute the brochures.  All students will write an essay on women's rights and equality, as well. The winning student essay will be read to all the students in the high school, and forwarded to AHRF.  AHRF will compile the winning essays from all 20 high schools into a booklet and distribute them at a press event, where a few selected essay writers will be interviewed for radio, TV, and newspapers.  The best four of the 20 participating principals will be invited to contribute to the training of another 20 principals, and the process will be repeated in another 20 schools.

National Organization for Developing Sodiety (NODS)

Democracy Training for Sanaa Imams and Women Preachers -  Through this project, the National Organization for Developing Society (NODS) will target a group of imams and women preachers in Sanaa through a series of workshops and training modules that examine and convey concepts of democracy, human rights and rule of law so that these values are later incorporated in their widely influential teachings.  This project expands on NODS’ successful work delivering democracy and human rights training to Imams and women preachers in the city of Taiz.

Modern Youth Society

Empowering Women Constituents in Yemen through Awareness and Activism" - The project will strengthen the ability of Yemeni women in the governorates of Shabwa, Ma’reb and Abeen to participate in political life as well-informed, active constituents.  Participants will lobby elected local officials and hold them accountable for addressing key issues of local concern.  The Modern Youth Society will draw upon leading women in the three governorates to form committees that will be responsible for identifying issues of concern, raising the awareness of local women, and lobbying and monitoring their respective Local Councils on current and future development issues, projects and services. 

The National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms (HOOD)

Reform of The Judicial Authority Law -  Yemen’s constitution provides for the judiciary’s independence, but the Judicial Authority Law, which defines how the judiciary is managed and operated, includes some provisions that infringe upon the constitutional safeguards of judicial independence.  Amendments were made to the law of Judicial Authority, but despite these recent changes the Judicial Authority remains susceptible to interference from the executive branch.  Through this project, a committee of legal experts will evaluate the effectiveness of the amendments made to the law of Judicial Authority, and identify and draft further amendments necessary to safeguard judicial independence.  The committee will present its proposed, draft amendment language to MPs, Yemen's Bar Associations, and the public for input.  An advocacy action plan for gaining wide public and parliamentary support for the draft amendments will be completed at a workshop for selected MPs and lawyers.

CEPPS & UNDP

Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions, and Increasing National Dialogue [Political] - This program assists the Parliament in developing core skills including assessing legislation, identifying policy priorities and working in coalitions and constituency outreach, media relations, and executive oversight. The second stage also encourages members of Parliament to make greater use of the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

Local Governance Capacity and Advocacy [Political] - This initiative supports Yemen’s decentralization process by strengthening the skills of local councils in various topics, including the areas of fiscal administration and constituent outreach. 

IFES

Voter Registration, Electoral System Capacity Building & Technical Assistance [Political] - This program provides technical Assistance on voter registration and elections processes and builds Yemen’s capacity for future elections.

Women's Training Program - This program develops women’s capacity for political participation

CARE Yemen

Increasing Women's Literacy - CARE Yemen and local partners have formed 47 Women’s Literacy Associations in the Amran Governorate. These associations are receiving both literacy training and support for income generating activities. Sixteen income-generating projects have been funded across the governorate. The program is incorporating a full array of activities to make literacy training relevant and functional, such as agricultural production, women’s savings and loan clubs, environmental management, maternal and child health including HIV/AIDS awareness, and women’s political participation and rights.

Regional Programs

Yemeni individuals or groups participate in the following programs, which take place in two or more countries in the region (Click Here to see descriptions of regional programs). MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.

• ABA/CEELI - Arab Women's Legal Netwrok (AWLN) [Women]
• ABA/CEELI - Middle East Legal Development Initiative [Political]
• Academy for Educational Development and Sun Microsystems - G-8 BMENA Global Learning Portal [Education]
• Beyster Institute - Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the U.S. (MEET U.S.) [Economic]
• Booz Allen Hamilton - Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Technical Assistance [Economic]
• Booz Allen Hamilton - WTO Accession and Compliance Technical Assistance [Economic]
• Center for Civic Education - Arab Civitas [Education]
• CEPPS - Democratic Strengthening [Political]
• Chugach - Middle East Finance Corporation Due Diligence [Economic]
• Chugach - Partnership Schools Due Diligence and Education Summit [Education]
• Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation - Welfare Arab Reform Program [Political]
• CLDP - Commercial, Judicial, and Legal Reform [Economic]
• FSVC - Partnership for Financial Excellence Part II [Economic]
• ICNL - Middle East Associative Rights Initiative [Political]
• International Finance Corporation - G-8 BMENA Technical Assistance [Economic]
• IREX - Middle East North Africa Development Initiative Alliance (MENA Media) [Political]
• IREX - Media Sustainability Index [Political]
• No Peace Without Justice - Strengthening the Democracy Assistance Dialogue [Political] 
• Junior Achievments - Economic Education and Job Skills Training in the Middle East [Economic]
• OECD - Middle East and North Africa Investment for Development Initiative [Economic] 
• Seeds of Peace - Building School Environments that Encourage Responsible Citizenship in Youth [Education]
• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars - Enhancing the Role of Arab Women in the Legislative Process [Political]
• UNDP -  Global Democracy Barometer Project [Political]