Recently published statistics have revealed that over 2,800 Yemeni girls have joined the country’s security forces, and the Ministry of the Interior has stated that the entry of women represents a massive gain for security forces.
During the opening of the Yemeni Women’s Conference, the Prime Minister said that the government is determined to ensure the empowerment of women in the political, economic, social and cultural fields because the government is aware of its humanitarian role and responsibilities. He called for increasing female political empowerment by increasing the number of female ministers, deputy-ministers, assistant-deputy ministers, executive general-directors and increasing their enrolment in the police forces. Mujawar also pointed to the governments’ advocacy of women’s issues, adding that there are also 76 female judges, and 414 female managers and technicians.
In a related issue, General Hussein al-Zozai, the Vice-Minister of the Interior, described the admission of woman to the country’s police forces as a massive gain in the ongoing communal security process.
The statement came on the occasion of the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, in which Zozai indicated that the skills of Yemeni police women are equal to those of men, adding that women are now found in all security fields, including counter-terrorism.
PM Mujawar also revealed the governments’ latest literacy figures which have seen a decrease in the number of illiterate women, from 76.3 percent in 1994 to 60 percent presently, in addition to the increase in the number of girls entering basic education. The percentage of girls in primary education now represents one third of the total number of children in school, while the proportion of girls in universities has increased to 28 percent.
Mujawar stated that the government has approved the implementation of the recommendations made by the International Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in addition to approving a number of amendments supporting women’s rights.
He confirmed the government’s obligation towards recommendations made by the “Saido” Committee and expressed his hope that international technical support groups and organizations working in Yemen would donate money for the implementation of these recommendations. There is a need for joint efforts to achieve progress in these areas as part of the Millennium Development Goals.
Showing posts with label illiteracy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illiteracy. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Yemen: Girls education top priority
More than 400 women of the Yemen Women Union (YWU) called for improvement in girls education aiming to increase by 36 percent by 2012. This came during the Union’s Second General Conference held on Monday, June 16 at the 22 May Hall in Sana’a.
The 400 participants are representing 46 thousand members of the union branches in the 22 Yemeni governorates. The conference aims to elect a chairwoman and 121 female members for the Union’s central council for the next four years as well as electing an administrative board of the Union’s executive office and a committee of monitoring and inspection.
The conference also evaluates accomplishments achieved by Yemeni women along the past four years in addition to discussing the Union’s financial and administrative reports. It also holds a workshop on women’s rights in reproductive health. Union’s branches had conducted their elections in the past two months.
Around 18 female representatives of various Arab and foreign countries have also participated in the conference exchanging experiences in different fields. The chairwomen of the YWU, Dr. Ramzia al-Eryany revealed in a press conference held on Sunday, the Union’s new plan for preparing a strategy for the next four years. According to Dr. al-Eryany, the plan aims to raise the rate of girls’ education to 35 percent, to reduce the illiteracy among Yemeni women and to establish more branches in other three governorates. The union has 145 centers for illiteracy eradication and it seeks to establish more centers in the different governorates.
“Yemen needs to empower women economically, socially and politically for achieving comprehensive development. Thus, we try to struggle against all kinds of discrimination against women, and to apply Islamic teachings which respect to women and their rights,” said Dr. al-Eryany.
She also indicated that the YWU has also tried to raise people’s awareness on kidnapping tourists through producing films, explaining dangers of such bad phenomenon and its consequences. The Vice President, Abdrabu Mansour Hadi, said that Yemeni women have a lot of rights which empower them to attain many achievements in different fields.
“Within the great support for women, the political leadership promised to give 15 percent of the parliament and local councils seats for women in the upcoming elections,” he said in the opening ceremony of the conference’s works.
YWU is one of the oldest and largest volunteer civil society organizations in Yemen. It is an independent organization and it represents all women in Yemen. The YWU’s ambition is to improve social and economic conditions for women. It is trying to guarantee justice for women and empower them so they would be able to fight for their rights and to participate effectively as partners in the developmental process.
YWU, which was formed in 1990, has a Special Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. It is also where women go when they need help, whether legal or social help. It is also a supporter of the developmental and democratic participation of women and it is helping women all over Yemen to obtain their constitutional and legislatives rights that the Yemeni laws entitle them to have.
- Yemen Observer
The 400 participants are representing 46 thousand members of the union branches in the 22 Yemeni governorates. The conference aims to elect a chairwoman and 121 female members for the Union’s central council for the next four years as well as electing an administrative board of the Union’s executive office and a committee of monitoring and inspection.
The conference also evaluates accomplishments achieved by Yemeni women along the past four years in addition to discussing the Union’s financial and administrative reports. It also holds a workshop on women’s rights in reproductive health. Union’s branches had conducted their elections in the past two months.
Around 18 female representatives of various Arab and foreign countries have also participated in the conference exchanging experiences in different fields. The chairwomen of the YWU, Dr. Ramzia al-Eryany revealed in a press conference held on Sunday, the Union’s new plan for preparing a strategy for the next four years. According to Dr. al-Eryany, the plan aims to raise the rate of girls’ education to 35 percent, to reduce the illiteracy among Yemeni women and to establish more branches in other three governorates. The union has 145 centers for illiteracy eradication and it seeks to establish more centers in the different governorates.
“Yemen needs to empower women economically, socially and politically for achieving comprehensive development. Thus, we try to struggle against all kinds of discrimination against women, and to apply Islamic teachings which respect to women and their rights,” said Dr. al-Eryany.
She also indicated that the YWU has also tried to raise people’s awareness on kidnapping tourists through producing films, explaining dangers of such bad phenomenon and its consequences. The Vice President, Abdrabu Mansour Hadi, said that Yemeni women have a lot of rights which empower them to attain many achievements in different fields.
“Within the great support for women, the political leadership promised to give 15 percent of the parliament and local councils seats for women in the upcoming elections,” he said in the opening ceremony of the conference’s works.
YWU is one of the oldest and largest volunteer civil society organizations in Yemen. It is an independent organization and it represents all women in Yemen. The YWU’s ambition is to improve social and economic conditions for women. It is trying to guarantee justice for women and empower them so they would be able to fight for their rights and to participate effectively as partners in the developmental process.
YWU, which was formed in 1990, has a Special Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. It is also where women go when they need help, whether legal or social help. It is also a supporter of the developmental and democratic participation of women and it is helping women all over Yemen to obtain their constitutional and legislatives rights that the Yemeni laws entitle them to have.
- Yemen Observer
Friday, April 11, 2008
Yemen: WOMEN 'STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME ILLITERACY'
Sana'a: Illiteracy among Yemeni women is still very high despite external and internal efforts to eradicate it, a senior UN official said.
More than 75 per cent of women living in rural areas are illiterate, and more than 40 per cent of urban women, according to recent statistics of the Sanaa-based Unicef.
About 70 per cent of Yemen's population of 22 million live in rural areas.
Unicef regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sigrid Kaag, told Gulf News in an exclusive interview in Sanaa concerted efforts were needed to overcome the many challenges facing women.
"We can't say Yemen is there yet, but that is not the major question; the question is about leadership and the courage to speak out about issues that are important to women," said Kaag.
She was on her first visit to Yemen since she assumed responsibility as Unicef director for about 20 countries in the region earlier this year. She is based in Amman, Jordan.
"It is a process of change and transformation," she said.
The UN official confirmed there was a wide gap between women in rural and urban areas in terms of access to education, health and other basic services.
Women in rural areas have very little access to these services. They sometimes work up to 16 hours per day on farms, carrying water and wood, and doing household chores.
"We need to focus on and accelerate the provision of education and health services in rural areas," the UN official said.
Child trafficking is very common from Yemen to its wealthy neighbour, Saudi Arabia. Poverty, domestic violence and illiteracy among parents are the main reasons for this.
Unicef has helped the Yemeni government tackle these issues in the past.
"The government and Unicef have taken steps towards building reception centres and helping trafficked children reintegrate into society," she said.
A recently established reception centre in Sanaa can accommodate as many as 60 victims of child trafficking.
Thousands of children are trafficked every year to Saudi Arabia for begging and working. They are deported back home almost on a daily basis.
Unicef also helps Yemen tackle child labour. Recent official reports have shown that some 3 million children, half of them girls, are working in Yemen.
Some 92 per cent of these children work in agriculture. The law which bans child labour in about 70 hazardous jobs does not apply to agriculture.
Kaag said Unicef would do a survey on poverty in Yemen, which is one of the main causes of child labour in the country.
Source: Gulf News
More than 75 per cent of women living in rural areas are illiterate, and more than 40 per cent of urban women, according to recent statistics of the Sanaa-based Unicef.
About 70 per cent of Yemen's population of 22 million live in rural areas.
Unicef regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sigrid Kaag, told Gulf News in an exclusive interview in Sanaa concerted efforts were needed to overcome the many challenges facing women.
"We can't say Yemen is there yet, but that is not the major question; the question is about leadership and the courage to speak out about issues that are important to women," said Kaag.
She was on her first visit to Yemen since she assumed responsibility as Unicef director for about 20 countries in the region earlier this year. She is based in Amman, Jordan.
"It is a process of change and transformation," she said.
The UN official confirmed there was a wide gap between women in rural and urban areas in terms of access to education, health and other basic services.
Women in rural areas have very little access to these services. They sometimes work up to 16 hours per day on farms, carrying water and wood, and doing household chores.
"We need to focus on and accelerate the provision of education and health services in rural areas," the UN official said.
Child trafficking is very common from Yemen to its wealthy neighbour, Saudi Arabia. Poverty, domestic violence and illiteracy among parents are the main reasons for this.
Unicef has helped the Yemeni government tackle these issues in the past.
"The government and Unicef have taken steps towards building reception centres and helping trafficked children reintegrate into society," she said.
A recently established reception centre in Sanaa can accommodate as many as 60 victims of child trafficking.
Thousands of children are trafficked every year to Saudi Arabia for begging and working. They are deported back home almost on a daily basis.
Unicef also helps Yemen tackle child labour. Recent official reports have shown that some 3 million children, half of them girls, are working in Yemen.
Some 92 per cent of these children work in agriculture. The law which bans child labour in about 70 hazardous jobs does not apply to agriculture.
Kaag said Unicef would do a survey on poverty in Yemen, which is one of the main causes of child labour in the country.
Source: Gulf News
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