Time for Peace in Yemen
Justice 4 Yemen Pact
September 21, 2024
On this International Day of Peace, the Justice 4 Yemen Pact, alongside the undersigned NGOs, raises its voice to demand an end to the destructive conflict and to ensure transitional justice for victims, in the pursuit of sustainable peace in Yemen. We call on those involved in the Yemeni conflict to use their intellects to build the foundations of peace for Yemenis, free from self-serving calculations or the implementation of regional and international interests. All parties must recognize that after ten years of fighting, Yemen is severely torn apart, its social fabric fractured, and misery has touched all Yemenis.
On this day, designated by the United Nations as a global occasion for "worldwide ceasefire and non-violence through education and public awareness," we celebrate under the theme "Together Toward Sustainable Peace" and the promotion of a culture of peace among all peoples. Yemen faces unprecedented challenges, and the drums of war beat loudly as a result of the attacks by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Yemen has been ravaged by war for nearly ten years. The conflict began in 2014 between the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group and the internationally recognized government forces, leading to military intervention by the Saudi-led Arab coalition in March 2015. Since then, violence has escalated across all Yemeni governorates. Wide areas have become battlegrounds—most notably, major cities like Sana’a, Aden, Taiz, and Hodeidah have been subjected to intense aerial and ground bombardments. This has resulted in the worst humanitarian crises globally, destroying vital infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, water, and electricity networks.
Reports indicate that more than 250,000 people have lost their lives due to direct conflict or its consequences, such as hunger and disease. Yemen's conflict is among the most destructive since the end of the Cold War. The total number of IDPs across Yemen since the war escalated in 2015 is about 4.5 million, including 1.3 million children. The conflict has also impacted education, with 4.5 million children out of school and 6.2 million children and teachers in need of assistance in 2024.
Economic hostilities have been a major obstacle to peace in Yemen. The economy, already fragile before the war, has suffered severe collapse. The division of the country into two economic zones by the Houthis has worsened the situation. Oil exports have been obstructed, air and sea navigation restricted, double taxation imposed, and government employees' salaries halted. Meanwhile, attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea have exacerbated challenges to stability and public services. According to the World Bank's latest report in June, Yemen has seen a 54% decrease in per capita real GDP, leaving most Yemenis in poverty.
Yemenis face hunger and catastrophe, amidst severe military and political fragmentation, impacting institutions' ability to intervene. Exceptionally heavy monsoon rains in August caused widespread damage and displacement throughout Yemen, affecting more than 500,000 people. The warring parties were unable to address this climate shock. Environmental experts also warn that "peace and security in Yemen are increasingly threatened due to environmental instability resulting from conflict, leading to poor management and excessive exploitation of natural resources, especially as institutions responsible for protecting the environment and managing resources have collapsed."
Our hearts are with those who suffer today, especially women and children, either from the direct effects of war or the growing inequality between men and women and the prevention of women's roles in society. The conflict parties have shown disproportionate exclusion of women and youth from peace efforts and decision-making processes.
Yemenis yearn today to rebuild their state institutions and establish a democratic civil state that upholds the values of citizenship, with human rights, justice, and equality as its foundation. For this, there is no choice for the warring parties but peace and coexistence. It is futile and insane to continue waging an endless war. All parties to the conflict in Yemen must realize that the Yemeni people are exhausted and deserve peace.
The need for peace is more urgent than ever. It is time to revive international and national efforts for negotiations to end the war and encourage confidence-building measures. Support for the inclusion of women, youth, and civil society in comprehensive solution negotiations is crucial. On this occasion, we must also remind that "negative" interventions by some regional countries in favor of Yemeni parties have contributed to destabilizing political and economic stability and harmed regional security, which must stop.
Peace requires goodwill and trust-building. This starts with guaranteeing freedom of opinion and expression, removing restrictions on civil society, preventing all measures that hinder equality between men and women, and supporting the building of national institutions, including human rights institutions. These concepts must be adopted as part of the traditions and stances needed to foster a culture of peace.
Recommendations:
· Call on the parties to the conflict in Yemen to declare an immediate ceasefire and unconditionally engage in direct negotiations to end the war and establish peace.
· The warring parties must respect human rights and international humanitarian law, ensuring the protection of civilians at all times. The culture and traditions of peace must be widely promoted, especially among children, public institutions, and media platforms.
· Transitional justice must be included in peace talks to ensure justice and compensation for the victims of the conflict and to hold those responsible for crimes accountable. Addressing the causes of the conflict should lead to its prevention and the building of a democratic civil state.
· Rebuilding Yemen's economy must be a priority for the international community, alongside the call for peace, including technical and financial support to enable Yemenis to rebuild their economic institutions, restore public services, stabilize the currency, reconstruct what the war has destroyed, create job opportunities for youth, and provide humanitarian aid.
· Independent international investigative committees must be formed to conduct comprehensive and impartial investigations into all war crimes and grave human rights violations committed in Yemen since the start of the conflict.
Signatories:
1. Musaala Organization for Human Rights.
2. Abductees' Mothers Association (AMA)
3. Al Amal Cultural and Social Foundation (AWSF)
4. Center for Strategic Studies to Support Women and Children (CSWC)
5. Free Media Center for Investigative Journalism
6. Marib Dam Social Development Foundation (MDF)
7. SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties
8. Studies Economic Media Center (SEMC)
9. Watch for Human Rights (Watch4HR)
10. Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (YCMHRV)
11. Dameer Foundation for Rights and Freedoms
12. Experts for development organization
13. Al-Quhaiti International Peace Organization
14. Human Development Foundation HDF
15. Alakhar Center for Peace and Development
16. Steps Foundation for Civil Development
17. Yemen media guide for Development Centre
18. Woman and Child Development Center
19. Bassma Foundation for Development and Rights
20. Peace Paths Foundation
