Wednesday, September 15, 2021
With a quick glance at the roles of Yemeni women before the war, it is impossible to remember all the names that shone with struggle and patriotism in every scientific, research, educational, medical, social, political, economic, and legal field. Among the notable names, but not limited to, are the dear pioneering sisters: Radhia Ihsan, Raqiya Hamidan, Aida Ali Saeed, Fathia Mohammed Abdullah, Nagiba Abdulghani, Fawzia Noaman, Ramzia Al-Eryani, Asmaa Al-Basha, Azza Ghanem, Ensaf Qasem, Hooria Al-Moayyed, Fathia Manqoosh, Fatoum Al-Dali (Fatoum Ali Ahmed), Naama Mua’jam, Naama Rassam, Fatima Abubakr, Asmahan Al-Alas, Rasheeda Al-Hamdani, Tehani Al-Khaiba, Afrah Al-Hariri, Suad Al-Absi, Shafiqa Morshed, Tayba Barakat, Atika Al-Shami. Their struggle did not stop at party or regional boundaries; their concern was the advancement and progress of women. The establishment of #unity and political pluralism played a significant role in this women's momentum, which flowed like a flood into every civilized outlet in all governorates over fifty years.
Women were present within the lungs of Yemeni society, breathing its air, and they found themselves inside this lung, occupying leadership and administrative positions that Yemen is proud of, with great enthusiasm. Some held the title of Member of the Presidential Council, others were heads of courts and judges, members of the Shura Council and the Parliament, ministers, ambassadors, deputy ministers, university presidents, and deans of colleges, surpassing all neighboring countries.
Due to the spread of education, especially in the last thirty years, and many women achieving the highest academic degrees, a generation capable of taking on these positions emerged. Examples include Raqiya Hamidan, Aida Ali Saeed, Wahiba Farah, Amat Al-Alim Al-Soswa, Huda Al-Baan, Hooria Mashhour, Khadija Al-Haisami, and Amat Al-Razaq Hamad. Women's associations emerged from Taiz to Sana'a, Hodeidah, Aden, and Hadhramaut. At the beginning of unity, the comprehensive Yemeni Women's Union was established, achieving many significant accomplishments. A national committee for women was established according to international requirements and based on the decisions of the World Conference on Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the international direction towards promoting principles of equality and empowerment between genders. This allowed Yemeni women to review and monitor the work of human rights, social, and political institutions, especially the Yemeni Women's Union, in light of international agreements, UN decisions on women, the UN Economic and Social Committee, and the International Committee on Human Rights. Several female leaders, such as Rasheeda Al-Hamdani, have chaired it, and the country has witnessed significant roles from women's organizations and social women's groups in all governorates, in harmony with the goals of the National Women's Committee.
It is also essential to mention the obscure militants who martyred in defending the revolution and the republic, striving for independence, including the martyr "Daghara," and for unity for the sake of society's progress and social peace. They were victims of the repressive security apparatuses in the two parts before unity and the emergence of party pluralism, accused of loyalty to one part or the other. Women were not isolated from political conflicts, facing political accusations and elimination in unprecedented ways in Yemen by pre-unity regimes.
Now, as we approach the fourth generation of pioneers and the end of the third generation of pioneering women's work, we see that this fourth generation of fighters inside and outside the country must draw inspiration from the previous humanitarian experience of all women. They are numerous in universities, schools, and institutions. If we take one experience at the level of a single institution, whether it be a school, factory, university, college, hospital, or any job, and consider how this work was initially undertaken and integrated with the momentum of the women's struggle movement in every social, medical, or legal unit, we would find stories of struggle and many unknown soldiers that the events revealed, intertwined with the enthusiasm of those generations who generously sacrificed their time, money, and blood. They are credited with bringing this generation to its current position.
Therefore, it is essential to document fifty years of struggle for liberation, revolution, and the republic, and forty years of women's national struggle, to understand which Yemeni women led this change over half a century, making them role models in all fields of interest to women. We must preserve this beautiful image of Yemeni women's contributions for future generations.
It is important to document this history with the spirit of the struggling and striving Yemeni woman, who meticulously details those who preceded her as role models and spreads the pleasant fragrance that emanated from them over these years of sacrifice, emulating their patience, struggle, and beautiful values.
Former Minister of Human Rights