Resources

The December 2024 iteration of the Feminist Peace Roadmap (FPR) for Yemen represents a further development in the ongoing efforts toward a just, sustainable, and inclusive peace. Building on previous editions, this third version—formulated through consultations led by the Peace Track Initiative (PTI) and a broad coalition of Yemeni women leaders, feminist organizations, and partners—introduces and expands attention to a number of emerging and persistent issues. This overview is designed for the general public and for peacebuilding actors in Yemen, and offers insights into the roadmap’s approach, particularly its increased emphasis on climate change, the situations in Taiz and Al-Hudaydah, and the rights and inclusion of minority communities. Context and Evolution FPR 2024 is the outcome of years of engagement involving more than a thousand participants from varied political, civil, cultural, security, and military backgrounds across local and national contexts. It reflects a set of shared priorities and serves as a practical reference for mediators and negotiating teams. The roadmap defines “Feminist Peace” as “the achievement of peace and security for all, led by women, through a local and national peacebuilding process grounded in consensus and common ground. The process promotes broad and diverse participation and draws on the frameworks of human rights, gender equality, justice, and the rejection of violence.” This edition incorporates input from the Feminist Peace Allies Group in Yemen—comprising civil society actors, politicians, and experts—whose contributions have shaped its inclusive content and perspective on long-term peace. New and Expanded Areas of Focus in the 2024 Roadmap While maintaining its overall structure centered around a multi-phased peace process (De-escalation and Ceasefire; Comprehensive Peace Negotiations; and Governance and Transitional Priorities), the December 2024 FPR integrates new areas of focus, including: 1. Climate Change as a Compounding Factor The 2024 Roadmap places greater emphasis on the intersection between climate change and Yemen’s humanitarian and socio-economic challenges. It outlines the country’s increasing vulnerability to environmental disruptions such as floods, cyclones, droughts, and rising temperatures. These phenomena have led to adverse consequences for many communities, especially women and other groups with limited access to services, livelihoods, and protection mechanisms. Areas such as Al-Hudaydah and Al-Mahrah are cited as particularly exposed to these impacts. The roadmap notes the specific effects on women, including repeated displacement, barriers to healthcare, and heightened risks of gender-based violence in environmentally affected areas. It therefore recommends that climate considerations be systematically included in peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts. It suggests that overlooking these issues may contribute to further societal tensions and resource-based conflicts, and may reduce the ability of marginalized groups to participate in long-term recovery and peacebuilding. 2. Dynamics in Taiz and Al-Hudaydah The FPR 2024 allocates detailed attention to the situations in Taiz and Al-Hudaydah, two governorates that have experienced significant humanitarian and political challenges. Taiz: Formerly a cultural and economic hub, Taiz has undergone extended conflict and siege, resulting in infrastructure destruction and limited access to water and basic services. The roadmap references the partial reopening of Al-Qasr Street in June 2024 as a development that facilitated some movement within the city, while also emphasizing that such steps remain fragile in the absence of broader political and security agreements. Localized peace initiatives are proposed to address the particular circumstances in Taiz. Al-Hudaydah: As a principal port serving northern Yemen, Al-Hudaydah plays a central role in the delivery of food and fuel. The roadmap reiterates the significance of the 2018 Stockholm Agreement in maintaining port operations and preventing escalation. However, it also acknowledges continued risks, including military activity and environmental stressors such as rising sea levels and erosion. The document calls for responses that take into account the overlapping security, humanitarian, and environmental dimensions in the governorate, and that consider the port's strategic function within national recovery efforts. 3. Rights and Representation of Minority Groups The December 2024 Roadmap expands its discussion on the multiple forms of exclusion affecting minority populations in Yemen. It outlines the particular challenges faced by (Religious minorities,Socially marginalized communities,Other underrepresented groups) whose inclusion in the peace process is seen as necessary for equitable representation.  The recommendations related to minority inclusion were developed in consultation with members of the Men Feminist Peace Allies Group. Ongoing Commitment to Inclusive Peacebuilding In addition to the thematic updates, the December 2024 Roadmap reaffirms its initial commitments, including the aim of securing at least 30% women’s representation in all phases of political and peace processes, with additional efforts to ensure youth participation and balanced representation between southern and northern regions. The roadmap continues to support a multi-track peace approach responsive to the priorities of various segments of Yemeni society, particularly those affected most directly by the conflict. This updated edition is intended as a reference for national and international actors involved in peace and reconstruction initiatives in Yemen. Through its examination of climate-related risks, local conflict dynamics, and minority representation, the December 2024 Feminist Peace Roadmap outlines a set of approaches designed to support inclusive and sustainable peace outcomes. It reflects the contributions of Yemeni women and civil society actors engaged in shaping future peace frameworks.

This paper examines the intersection of climate change, gender equality, and peacebuilding in Yemen, with a specific focus on Aden, Hadramout, and Al-Mahra. The policy paper highlights the challenges faced by women due to climate change, particularly in the context of Yemen’s ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. It also assesses the gaps in Yemen’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), emphasizing the need to integrate climate considerations into national and international peace efforts. The publication provides key recommendations for policymakers, civil society, and international stakeholders to ensure a gender-responsive approach to climate resilience and sustainable peace in Yemen.

The Situation of Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Arbitrary Detention, and Deprivation of Liberty by the Houthis against Women and Men Working in International and National Organizations and Civil Society in Yemen  

Linda Al-Obahi, Senior Advisor on Political Affairs and Mediation, delivered a briefing to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the deteriorating situation of women's rights in Yemen. Representing the Peace Track Initiative (PTI) and the Women Solidarity Network, she highlighted the urgent humanitarian needs and the systemic violations against women and girls in the country. Linda’s briefing shed light on the severe restrictions on women’s freedom of movement, the rise in gender-based violence, and the increasing use of child marriage and forced displacement as survival strategies. She also emphasized the targeted attacks on women human rights defenders, activists, and marginalized women, many of whom face arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence. She called on the Security Council to ensure the release of arbitrarily detained women, include women in peace negotiations, and integrate gender-sensitive policies in Yemen’s transition process. PTI stands committed to supporting Yemeni women and ensuring their voices are heard in all efforts toward sustainable peace.

This mapping was developed by Peace Track Initiative to provide a comprehensive overview of environmental policies and climate actors in Yemen, examining the intersection between climate change, gender, and peacebuilding. The mapping identifies key initiatives and organizations working in the climate field, assesses their impact on women and marginalized groups, and evaluates the inclusion of environmental priorities in civil society agendas. This work is part of PTI’s efforts to ensure that climate justice is central to feminist peacebuilding in Yemen.

The "Glossary of International Protection Terms for Human Rights in Sign Language" is a specialized resource aimed at enhancing access to protection and human rights concepts for people with hearing disabilities in Yemen. The guide provides 65 key legal and rights-related terms in Yemeni Sign Language, many of which were previously unavailable in the national sign language dictionary. It was developed with the active participation of sign language experts, interpreters, and members of the deaf community from the governorates of Aden, Lahij, and Abyan. The initiative was carried out under the supervision of Iman Omar Hashem, a certified sign language interpreter with over 25 years of experience. The process involved translating the meaning of each term, developing its sign, performing and filming the signs with deaf participants, and printing the final version of the guide. The printed guide has been distributed to professionals working with the deaf community across the three governorates, marking a pioneering step toward inclusive human rights engagement. This guide was developed as part of the project “Strengthening the Resilience of Women Human Rights Defenders in Yemen,” led by the Peace Track Initiative, in partnership with Elbarlamaent (Germany), TOBE Foundation for Rights and Liberties, and with funding from the European Union (EU).