By Brendan Sweeney
Under the motto “we make the change” the Yemeni Human Rights Network launched its new programme at a ceremony in the Yemeni capital, San´a, on 5 Nov 2009.
The network includes six Yemeni civil society organizations: the Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRTIC), Women Journalists Without Chains, National Organization for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms (HOOD), Yemen Human Rights Observatory, Democracy School and the Yemeni Organization for the Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms (YOD). All six NGOs work in close partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).
The Chairperson of HOOD, Mohammed N Alwa expressed his belief that YHRN will contribute significantly to civil society work in Yemen. The creation of the network was a response to the need to coordinate the efforts of civil society organisations dealing with human rights in Yemen, he said, while Jamal Al Shami, the Head of the Democracy School, pointed out that the network was the fruit of two years of concerted collaboration between the founding organizations.
Tawakul Karman, the Head of Women Journalists Without Chains, described the foundation of the YHRN as an important step that enhances the idea of partnership and sets the stage for strong civil society alliances that are based on conscious partnership, professionalism, equity and equality. She added that "we expect that the power of the civil society in creating sustainable cultural and political development is likely to gain impetus as a result of the foundation of the YHRN. We will collaboratively work so that our Network shall muster a crucial impact on the fight against corruption and consolidate the pillars of good governance".
Amani Salem, who coordinates the Civil Society Programme in Yemen for DIHR said that the foundation of the network is a culmination of two full years of serious and unrelenting work carried out by the partner organizations in close cooperation with the DIHR. The initiative stems from the awareness of all partners of the importance of their mission to defend human rights and promote good governance. They are all motivated to learn from each other’s areas of expertise with the view to strengthening collaborative and institutional work that maximizes outcomes and impact, she said.
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