Oxfam's work in Yemen in depth

Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the world, and the number of people living in poverty continues to rise. In remote rural areas especially, people do not have basic services, and do not have a say in decisions that affect them. Oxfam is supporting people to gain their basic rights.

Oxfam in Yemen

We advocate greater justice for women, and we’re working to secure legal protection. This includes raising awareness – at all levels – of the negative effects of early marriage on girls’ education, health, and skills development. We provide primary health-care services in rural areas. We also ensure that people are involved in decision-making processes; for instance, through the formation of networks to monitor the implementation of the government’s development plans.

Fair justice for all

Women in Yemen do not have the same access to the judicial courts as men. We are working with local organisations to ensure that the legal system protects the rights of vulnerable women, by raising awareness about legal rights, providing legal aid, and supporting female prisoners.

For instance, the Yemeni Women’s Union, supported by Oxfam, provides free legal support to women in prisons, courts, and police stations. The union also counsels women who have survived domestic violence. It takes courage to challenge a system that has persistently discriminated against such women; many people simply consider them immoral. Jasmine, a lawyer, was among many who opposed legal representation for women: but after she was invited to an Oxfam-supported workshop, she changed her mind and now she persuades others to re-consider their beliefs too. “Working with these women [in the judicial system] has taught me to change the way that I used to think about them. Most of them have similar stories of social injustice and discrimination, caused by an unbalanced system,” she says.

Health

In the Hadhramout governorate, less than a quarter of the population has access to basic health services. Lack of money, transport – or usually both –deprives so many women of maternity care. It should be a right; not merely the stuff of dreams. Local partner organisations are working with communities to set up and run primary health care schemes, with funding from Oxfam.

By the end of 2007, Oxfam had funded the training of 60 midwives and 150 traditional birth attendants (TBAs). Om Al Sa’ad has been delivering babies in her village for years, but knows that her TBA training will make a difference to the health of the women she attends: “The training helped me to deliver them in a better way… I can now tell when a mother is in danger, and needs to be referred to the hospital. I can help the women more.”

Through consultation at government level, we’re encouraging the authorities to set up similar health care schemes throughout the country.

Last updated: July 08