Yemen
Since 2014, the conflict in Yemen has been marked by multiple serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, with devastating humanitarian consequences. Less known, and largely underreported, is the enormous rise in sexual violence committed in different forms across the country, and in areas controlled by all parties to the conflict. This often compounds or occurs alongside other forms of violence – including gender-based violence – committed both in the context of the conflict and beyond.
The true scale of conflict-related sexual violence in Yemen is unknown due to the fear of social stigma and reprisals that discourages reporting, as well as the collapse of law enforcement and protection mechanisms.
The GRS was started in 2023 and completed in 2025. The launch of the report was cancelled for security and logistical reasons, with the study instead distributed through a series of online meetings organised with key authorities from the internationally-recognised government, civil society organisation, and coalitions working on the transitional justice process in Yemen. The meetings were used to raise awareness on the content and recommendations of the GRS, but also to engage and establish connections with actors working on the topic of conflict-related sexual violence in the country. The aim was to better understand the challenges they face, and gauge general willingness to discuss and recognise the wider issue.
2023
It emerged from these exchanges that:
- The main relevant stakeholders, including the internationally-recognised government, show growing interest in transitional justice, including reparations and the need to have a contextual approach adapted to Yemeni culture and traditions;
- Conflict-related sexual violence is still highly stigmatised in Yemen, and this issue is totally absent from the public sphere.
In 2026, GSF will build from these discussions to continue to raise awareness on the needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence committed in Yemen and their right to reparation.
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