17 January 2024
Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights Declaration
Yemen: Seven organizations launch the Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights in partnership with CIHRSArab Countries, International Advocacy Program by CIHRSJanuary 17, 2024
The Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights has been launched by seven Yemeni organizations in partnership with Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), with the aim of strengthening international advocacy, establishing more effective working relations in Yemeni civil society, and building and developing local campaigns to improve the human rights situation in Yemen. At this critical time for Yemen, a priority for the coalition organizations’ is the protection of civilians through the pursuit of a unified fundamental objective of principled human rights work, far removed from political and religious strife and differences. The coalition prioritizes joint work to enhance the ability of Yemeni civil society to cooperate with various local, regional and international human rights mechanisms, build capabilities and alliances, and collect and provide evidence and information.
The coalition is composed of seven Yemeni organizations operating in Sana’a, Marib, Aden, Shabwa and Ta’iz. The organizations collectively seek a safe space for dialogue, discussion and the exchange of visions and plans within a joint and integrated strategy to boost public freedoms and defend the political, civil, social and economic rights of the Yemeni people, including the rights of women and minorities.
The coalition’s vision stems from the necessity of empowering Yemeni civil society organizations to uphold their role effectively and professionally, in accordance with international human rights standards. The coalition’s vision further encompasses institutionalizing partnership, cooperation, and responsibilities for protection and defense among Yemeni civil society actors and organizations, and ensuring safe spaces for human rights work in Yemen. The members of the Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights have reached an agreement on the following objectives, which demarcate the scope of the coalition’s joint work:
Expanding reliance on local documentation groups in order to bridge the gap represented by the absence of an international mechanism to document grave human rights violations in Yemen.Advancing and adopting peaceful solutions during the transitional period, and spreading a culture of peaceful coexistence and acceptance of others through the effective and genuine participation of civil society organizations.Improving the ability of Yemeni civil society organizations to protect their work in documenting violations and monitoring human rights conditions, and to participate effectively in advocating for accountability, justice, and an end to impunity.Supporting national and popular media campaigns with the aim of raising awareness among local and international communities on the gravity of human rights violations committed in Yemen.Introducing and raising awareness on forms of gender-based violence during conflict, including gender-based violence perpetrated by active parties in Yemen’s conflict.Rejecting isolation while promoting networking and communication among human rights organizations, and between local rights advocates and advocates in the diaspora.Creating a safe platform for dialogue and open discussions to bring together Yemeni civil society organizations and reach an integrated and realistic vision for work and its implementation.CIHRS and the organizations of the Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights express their appreciation for all current and previous independent initiatives working to establish the principles of human rights and justice in Yemen. CIHRS and the Yemeni Coalition affirm their continued readiness to cooperate with independent actors in the field of human rights, including independent Yemeni organizations, international organizations working in the fields human rights or humanitarian relief, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the aim of promoting human rights throughout the territory of Yemen.
CIHRS and the Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights believe in the importance of upholding the values of the joint approach in confronting the challenges facing the Yemeni people.
17 January 2024
"The Final Ceremony for Cohort 01 of Yemen SOUT Project...
As part of “Yemen SOUT” project, implemented by a group of young Alumni of cultural exchange programs in partnership with PASS Foundation - Peace for Sustainable Societies and funded by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF2023), Cohort 01 of the training program "Yalla Podcast" has ended an intensive training journey for (60 hours), for 20 Aden artists from different fields (Drawing and Design, Literature and Writing, Public Speaking, Audio Engineering...), the Training Program's journey focused on all the preparation, design, production, industry and audio engineering needs of podcast makers for a Podcast Episode, and the training concentrated on 4 main subjects: (Ethics of Journalistic Work and Research Methodology, Visual Identity Design, Script Writing, Audio Engineering).
Each group of 5 artists in Cohort 01 - with a total of 4 groups - have produced their own podcast episode under the supervision of the trainers (Eng. Sara Al-Shuaibi and Eng. Ali al-Saadi), starting from the creating the idea, to searching for supporting resources, writing and reviewing scripts and scenarios, designing visual identity, in addition to recording and editing the audios of the podcasts. The Output of the production phase is that 4 podcasts are now created and produced in Adeni accent made by the participants with concepts and backgrounds from the Adeni art and culture, entitled (Showha, Hendrab, Masamatosh? and Yellow Light) podcasts.
The journey of making and producing these podcast episodes for Cohort 01 of the project "Yemen SOUT" will be shared in the coming days..
#ExchangeAlumni#AEIF2023
01 January 2024
Noon Feminist Coalition Has Conducted a training workshop...
Noon Women's Coalition, in partnership with PASS-Peace for Sustainable Societies and the Saferworld organization implemented a training on "Digital Cybersecurity and Investigative Evidence" as part of the Resource Change Phase II: Supporting Women's Rights Organizations (WROS) and Women's Networks in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCAS) in Aden Governorate.
In the opening of the training, Ms. Bahia Hassan Al-Saqqaf, President of PASS Foundation -Peace for Sustainable Societies welcomed the Judge First General Solicitor Fawzi Ali. She explained that the importance of holding the training lies in providing a number of prosecutors, criminal investigation officers, and security officers with the concepts of the basics of digital cybersecurity, investigative evidence, privacy protection, and ways to protect systems, networks, devices from electronic and digital attacks and electronic extortion.
Al-Saqaf explained that PASS-Foundation aims to contribute to the building of a modern civilian State, promote awareness and drive members of society towards achieving sustainable development, see it as a coexisting society, sustainable development, consolidate the values and altitudes of civic action, respect diversity and promote sustainable development. Appreciate the efforts of those involved in overcoming the difficulties and establishing the success of the training. Wish getting benefit from the training and reflect it on the ground in their work offices.
Afra Al-Hariri, the coordinator of the Noon Women's Coalition expressed her happiness of all the guest’s presence. She pointed out that the Noon Women's Coalition was founded on November 22, 2022, in Aden city, and includes fifteen women from different fields and specializations.
Al-Hariri pointed out that the first project was completed in the public sanitation service improvement in Saira and Khor Maksr district. She pointed out that the Noon Women's Coalition was formed with the support of PASS and Severworld. The first project was implemented through which the community can be represented by Noon Women's Coalition. (Criminal Research Department, Al-Shab Hospital, Education department Sira district, Local Authority of the two departments, Autism Society and Hayat Foundation for Early Intervention, she added that we are in the process of the second project to establish a unit to investigate crimes of cyber extortion... She noted that the Noon Women's Coalition and Pass Foundation would work with Severworld support by establishing a unit to investigate and equip it with all the programs and equipment that the Department could operate in the Public Prosecutor's Office to Combating cybercrime.
Judge First General Solicitor Fawzi Ali affirmed the importance of cybercrime and cyber extortion as it is considered a fact in a place due to developments in our Yemeni society and at the regional and international level. Noting that it has become highly reliant on digital data, which leads to violation and extortion, he praised the interest of the Pass Foundation- Peace in sustainable societies represented by Professor Bahia al-Saqaf, and the Noon Cluster of feminists represented by Professor Afrah Al-Hariri.
Trainer Mr. Qaher Ali Saeed reviewed interlocutors on cybersecurity, privacy protection, ways of protecting against hacks, information security elements, attention to personal data, enhancing the protection of IT systems and taking all necessary measures to protect users from potential risks in the field of Internet use.
As well as the participants learned about the types of cybercrimes, the most prominent risks of using the internet, and how information security specialists use procedures to strengthen passwords, encryption, control access permissions, and legal liability.
22 November 2023
The Second Consultative Workshop with Active Civil Societ...
Fatima al-Abadi
The PASS Foundation - Peace for Sustainable Societies, funded by the European Union, in partnership with the Resonate! Yemen Foundation and Deep Root Foundation, held the second consultative workshop with active civil society leaders in Lahij governorate - within “Institutionalizing Peace in Yemen project "to advance a common vision of peace infrastructure.
During the workshop that held from 09 to 07 November, an advance a common vision of peace infrastructure in the transition process was promoted and a number of issues were discussed/ competing for local materials and how to reform the State's system of rational management, demobilization and reintegration of armed formations, reduction of hate speech, promotion of development and the economic aspect, internally displaced persons, and national reconciliation.
During the workshop launching, which was attended by 20 participants from various sectors, including representatives of universities, the judiciary, security and the media, civil society and various age groups, participants stopped A Minute of Mourning and Reading Al-Fatiha for Palestinian Martyrs who fallen in Israel's recent and ongoing aggression against Gaza City.
During the workshop launching, Ms. Bahia Al-Saqaf- the PASS Foundation President delivered an opening speech and began by welcoming all attendees with the participation of Mr. Saeb Abdulaziz Saeed, Director General of Social Affairs and Labor Office in Lahij governorate, and Security Deputy Director General in the governorate Mr. Ali Ahmed Amr.
Al-Saqaf said that the project of "Institutionalizing Peace in Yemen " is being implemented in the liberated governorates at the level of Yemen with the aim of producing a comprehensive peace vision in all development, economic and social sectors.
She said that the empowerment projects had been highlighted in Lahij governorate, and the Foundation had already held a two-day panel discussion with community leaders and good outputs.
The governorate of Lahij is one of the governorates that has been deprived of many special development projects. International organizations have little to do with Lahij, and the Foundation needs to listen and benefit from several social figures to broaden the vision of the governorate's needs, which is the main purpose of implementing the second workshop in the portfolio and raising its needs for international organizations.
Al-Saqaf noted that one of the Foundation's objectives is to contribute to drawing the alphabets of civic action and respect for diversity and difference, to empower young people and women politically and socially, to advance members of society towards sustainable development, to contribute to the building of a modern civil state, to promote legal awareness and to establish the principle of social justice and respect for human rights.
In turn, Director General of the Office of Social Affairs and Labor in Lahij Governorate, Professor Saeb, thanked PASS Foundation - Peace for Sustainable Societies for the implementation of the second meeting with governorate cadres and personalities interested in development work in various fields.
she stressed on the importance of attracting international organizations that are active and networking with various stakeholders to work towards the development of Lahij governorate and the implementation of sustainable projects.
During the workshop three-day, in Al-Houtat, the capital of the governorate, participants gave a detailed explanation of the most prominent local resources in Lahij, a competition that amounts to violence and societal division. They cited the reasons for that competition and how best to address the causes of the competition at the provincial and national levels. and to discuss the development promotion, the economic aspect and steps to be taken to achieve post-war development and identify those responsible for its implementation.
During the second day, issues were mentioned that contribute to fueling hate speech, examining the causes and extent of their association with the national level and identifying the steps that limit it, as well as discussing the issue of displaced persons and practices that contribute to creating tension between displaced persons and the host community and how they can succeed in positive coexistence, and identifying the necessary requirements that the State should provide to ensure the voluntary return of displaced persons to their areas.
On the third and final day, participants were confined to national-level pilgrimage and conduct by armed formations and examined the reasons why individuals integrated into those formations are committing such practices as to address them.
The most prominent conflict-affected areas were confined to Lahij and identified the form of reconciliation that would serve to achieve justice and restore the social fabric.
The PASS Foundation- Peace for Sustainable Societies implemented the first consultative workshop with civil society leaders in Lahij last July 16, centered on measuring opinion on 6 issues that are "security and justice, education and culture of peace (rationalization of religious and media discourse), social justice, wealth and power, transitional justice, and economic reform."
