Is there a solution to Yemen's struggles?
The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to detoriate: The UN estimates that 20 per cent of the population is in pressing need of aid. The country is living through civil war due to fighting between government forces, Houthis, militias loyal to former president Saleh and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The was the far from encouraging setting as the Danish Institute for Human Rights, International Media Support and KVINFO hosted a seminar on the struggles of Yemen and a discussion on how to move forward.
Political analyst Siris Hartkorn started the seminar by giving a brief overview of current events in the troubled country:
"The long term impacts of the current crisis is severe: According to the World Food Programme, famine is around the corner; the sectarian divide is growing together with radicalization. I am afraid that my conclusion is not very positive," Siris Hartkorn said.
"Saudi influence is a problem"
Amal Basha, the chairperson of the Sisters' Arab Forum for Human Rights, blamed Saudi Arabia for many of the current troubles.
"We have had Saudi influence for 50 years and it led us nowhere in terms of human rights and democracy. Saudi Arabia does not want Yemen to be strong and free. And unfortunately, the powerful groups in Yemen do not listen to the voice of the people - only to the sounds of violence," she said.
She regretted the international community's accept as Saudi Arabia as a regional player.
This is the time to stay
After a presentation on the media situation in the unruly country by Sara Zawqari of The Yemen Times and a contribution by Hanna Ziadeh on the geopolitical implications, the discussion turned to the way forward for Yemen.
Niklas Kabel Pedersen, programme manager for the Middle East and North Africa at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, underlined that despite the serious setbacks, there is still much need of international support to the Yeminis.
"We have to hold on to the fact that reform-minded people are still working in Yemen. We have partners in ministries who are devoted to human rights, and their work will hopefully be built upon when the conflict ends," he said.
As an example, he mentioned that the Ministry for Human Rights recently released a report on human rights violations during the conflict - defying the difficult working conditions.
The entire seminar was livecasted and is available here.
The work of the Danish Institute for Human Rights in Yemen is supported by the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme.