Progress Amid Resistance

YEMEN 571Women have a legal right to own and use housing as individuals, butthey face discrimination in the case of divorce. Unlike the 1974 familylaw of South Yemen, which allocated the marital house to the wife if shemaintained custody of children, the current Personal Status Law denies herthese benefits. Hence, unless she owns the marital house, she is required toleave it with her children after a divorce.Yemeni women have begun to challenge more conservative Islamic in -terpretations regarding the proper role for women in society and activelycampaign against gender-based violence practiced in the name of traditionand custom. However, they face continuous attacks by Islamic fundamentalistswho attempt to smear their reputations, accusing them of underminingIslamic teachings and social morals. They have also increasingly become atarget of harassment by security forces, which systematically suppress humanrights activism in general. Combined with negative public attitudes regardingwomen’s participation in public life, these factors present daunting obstaclesto women’s rights activists. Yet their determination to continue their effortsand exercise their rights despite such adversity is a reason for optimism.RecommendationsF The government should increase its budget allocations for the healthsector so as to fully implement its policies on improving women’s accessto health services.F The government should take active measures to increase women’s participationin the media. This may include special recruitment initiativestargeting women, scholarships in journalism in Yemen and abroad, andsetting a hiring quota for women in senior positions of all state-ownedmedia outlets.F The government should issue a law prohibiting and penalizing thepractice of female genital mutilation. The law should be complementedwith community awareness campaigns that aim to eliminatepublic tolerance and acceptance of this type of violence.F The government, in cooperation with Yemeni NGOs, should conductawareness campaigns in the media and schools to promote the conceptof women’s right to make independent choices regarding birth controland health in general.F The government should provide incentives for the private sector toes tablish a sustainable program of small credits (loans) to help womenstart or expand their own businesses.