In general, young women in South Yemen believe that the most prominent challenges and obstacles they face are the customs, traditions, and restrictions against women in all aspects of life.

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Reem Al-Fadhli (South24)

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On August 12 every year, the world celebrates International Youth Day that highlights the vital role of young men and women in shaping the future. This day celebrates their contributions to society and highlights the issues and challenges they face in being the driving force for change and innovation in nations and communities.

In South Yemen, young women have tried to overcome the impact of the political, economic, and security crises in the country over the past decades, starting from the 1994 War against South till the latest conflicts. Despite the massive challenges they face related to social and economic rights, the young women today are seeking, with full determination and strength, to improve their situations and change the status quo that has been imposed on them.

 

’South24 Center‘ conducted some interviews with a number of Southern young women to talk about issues that matter to them. These include the participation of women in political life and decision-making, the challenges they face in their work, and their expectations for the political future of South Yemen. Their points of view are detailed below: 

 

Challenges and Obstacles

In general, young women in South Yemen believe that the most prominent challenges and obstacles they face are the customs, traditions, and restrictions against women in all aspects of life.

 

In this regard, Intisar Al-Faqih, Head of Women Development in Al-Dhalea Governorate and Chairman of the Women Development Association, said that the rural customs and traditions comprise one of the most prominent challenges for the Southern young females.

 

Al-Faqih told ’South24 Center‘: “Depriving women of their basic rights, such as education due to poor social awareness, alienating them from government and private positions, and the discrimination they face under the false social pretext that they are less important or capable than men, are obstacles that hinder females and limit their success.” 

 

Hayam Al-Qarmoushi, Founding Member of the ’Southern for Peace‘ movement, who lives in Shabwa governorate, told ’South24 Center‘ that “Young Southern females suffer from social stigma that limits them and belittles women’s political role. None of the political parties do anything to absorb young women as members and prepare them for any future role.”

 

Rasha Attaf, an official in the Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Authority, affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), stressed that Southern women face several challenges, including “the notion -- which is unjustly and unfairly attributed to the Islamic religion -- that women lack intelligence and capabilities.” 

 

Sarah Noweja, program producer and presenter at Al-Mahra Radio, said that she faces several challenges in her media career, including the lack of available opportunities, coupled with the ongoing conflicts in Yemen that negatively impact the chances of getting education and work. This is in addition to discrimination based on gender.

 

In Abyan, photographer Sarah Al-Jaadi, told ’South24 Center‘ that the challenges women face related to social customs and traditions limit their opportunities to reach leadership positions or achieve progress in their careers.

 

Professor at the Faculty of Media in Aden, Fatima Al-Abadi, believes that the quality of education and job opportunities for the Southern girls are among their biggest challenges. She told ’South24 Center‘: “For example, the Southern young women who aspire to make a mark as journalists face the limitations of the local media job market as well as the fears of engaging in field or investigative journalism.”

 

Fatima pointed to additional major difficulties they face including the national identity that Southern young females are proud of and cling to, but which creates a major challenge for them when they are classified based on biased or political stances. She also mentioned that any Southern newspaper is stigmatized for “political partisanship” if it announces its national identity. According to her, it is a reverse political bias – beginning from international media platforms before the Arab or local ones.

 

Journalist Asmaa Al-Anini, hailing from the Socotra archipelago in the Gulf of Aden, agrees that for Southern young females the revelation of their national identity creates challenges for and rivalries against them within the media circle. She told ’South24 Center‘: “Southern females have no choice except to cling to their identities. However, the repercussions for this are massive.”

 

Regarding entrepreneurship, Founder and Head of the ’Munasib‘ Office for managing events and marketing services, Zahraa Ali, said that the young men and women of South Yemen are confronted with several challenges, but the young women in particular face greater obstacles. The challenges include poor infrastructure services and the instability of the exchange rate that has reached very high levels which does not suit individuals’ income.

 

She added: “The biggest challenge in the field of entrepreneurship is the weak support provided to women, even at the level of making decisions and regulations for the emergent projects, as we find ourselves required to sustain several financial obligations and community contributions.”

 

Politics and Decision-making

 

Rasha Attaf believes that the participation of the Southern women in politics and decision-making is poor and nearly absent. She added: “I think that the road will be long for the Southern young women to achieve effective participation in political life.”

 

Fatima Al-Abadi agrees that the representation of Southern women, especially the young ones in international events and local decision-making positions, is poor and almost negligible. She attributes the reasons for this to false perceptions about the role and capabilities of women, harmful community practices and poor awareness.

 

Zahraa criticized the current level of the participation and contribution of Southern young females in politics and decision-making. According to her, “female participation is very nominal and does not contribute to political decision-making. Moreover, decision makers are disconnected from women’s views.”

 

Nonetheless, Fatima praised the role of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the biggest political entity in South Yemen, in developing and enabling Southern women and young females. She demanded “duplicating the efforts and completing the process of giving women their rights.”

 

However, Sarah Noweja believes that Southern women have a role to play in current political decision-making that cannot be ignored. Rana Al-Juaidi agrees with her, pointing to a moderate female presence, better than before, in the political arena and parties. However, she stressed that this participation is still below the required level.

 

Hayam Al-Qarmoushi said that Southern young females in Aden and Hadramout have achieved progress in their political participation as well as in decision-making. However, she believes the contribution of women, both young and older, in these sectors in the governorates such as Shabwa is delayed and muted due to social reasons.

 

South Yemen in the Eyes of its Young Women

 

Zahraa said that “the Southern identity represents a comprehensive pride in its cultural elements and the positive image that we must convey to the world by preserving the cultural heritage and deep belonging to this land whose features were written by the “blood of the martyrs.”

 

She added: “Despite the uncertain circumstances in the country, we hope for a future in which South Yemen will be a federal state with full sovereignty which would guarantee the rights of citizens across all areas and achieve social and economic prosperity.”

 

Sarah Al-Jaadi emphasized her Southern national identity, adding that she hopes for more attention being paid to young females in Abyan Governorate that is faced with economic and security challenges.

 

Asmaa Anini and Sarah Noweja do not hide their feelings of optimism that the Southerners’ cling to their national identity in the hope it will ultimately lead to restoring of their civilian state. They pointed to the attention enjoyed by women in South state between 1967-1990 and their prominent roles in different domains at the level of the whole region.

 

Rasha Attaf expressed that she feels proud of being among “the Southern national system,” represented in the STC which has a clear project for restoring South state, based on the 1990 borders and the establishment of a comprehensive federal Southern state that can achieve the aspirations of everyone.

 

Recommendations for Enhancing the Role of Southern Young Females

 

These interviews highlight the urgent need for enhancing the participation of young females in South Yemen in the political and social spheres as well as adopting solutions and programs to help overcome the several challenges they are faced with.

 

For example, Sarah Noweja asked for providing flexible educational opportunities for girls and encouraging them to gain the skills required for the job market.

 

Rasha Attaf feels that young men and women should be included in the political process. Prior to that, they should be trained and conditioned to gain the experience and knowledge needed for their involvement in the political work, where vigilant leaders are required for contributing to building the future, according to her. 

 

Sarah Al-Jaadi believes that the establishment of funds or finance programs to support the small projects managed by young females, in addition to providing training and guidance in the field of entrepreneurship, are important steps to enhance the role of youth in society. Furthermore, the establishment of dialogue and participation platforms for young men and women will allow them to express their views and contribute to the decision-making. 

 

According to Fatima Al-Abadi, the international decisions taken related to the participation of youth and women in the decision-making processes should be activated. These include the UN Resolution 2250 about “youth, peace, and security” and the UN Resolution 1325 about increasing women’s participation in peace processes.

 

In any case, the struggle of women in South Yemen for the sake of their rights, freedoms, and prosperity cannot be separated from the majority of people in South Yemen who believe that they have been entirely excluded and marginalized during the forced Yemeni unity.