1. Provision of prompt assistance to GBV survivors and
strengthening the capacity of local associations for a
comprehensive GBV response in Yemen project
Thematic Assessment Report
GBV - physical assault in Yemen
Assessment conducted in
Aden, Abyan, Lahaj, Al-Dhala’e , Shabwa, Sada’a, Amran
and Hajja
December 2015

2. 1
Table of contents
1. Introduction 2
1.1. General context of GBV in Yemen................................................................................................ 2
1.2. Background ................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3. Objectives of the GBV Assessment .............................................................................................. 3
1.4. Methodology.................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Findings 4
2.1. General Understanding of GBV and Physical Assault:................................................................. 4
2.2. Physical Assault Trends, Causes and Response ......................................................................... 4
3. Response to Physical Assault: ...................................................................................................................... 8
4. Conclusions 13
Abbreviations
CBO Community Based Organisation
FG Focus Group
FGD Focus Group Discussion
GBV Gender Based Violence
IMS Information Management System
INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation
LNGO Local Non-Governmental Organisation
VAW Violence Against Women
YWU Yemen Women Union

3. 2
1. Introduction
INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian aid organization committed to helping and supporting
endangered populations, victims of wars and natural disasters.
INTERSOS started its partnership with UNFPA in 2013 and implemented in 2015 the UNFPA-funded project
“Provision of prompt assistance to GBV victims and strengthening the capacity of local association for a
comprehensive GBV response in Yemen”, in Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwa, Al-Dhalea, Amran, Sada'a and
Hajja. The project aimed to contribute to the establishment of community based GBV emergency response
networks and prevention, coordination of GBV efforts through support for the GBV working groups in Aden
and Haradh, and capacity building of Yemeni local associations engaged in GBV prevention and response
activities in the North and South of Yemen. The project included also a thematic assessment for GBV.
1.1.General context of GBV in Yemen
Before the war, the existing Yemeni social protection system provided only limited specialized services for
GBV survivors and women at risk showing large gaps, while humanitarian organizations (international and
national) offering assistance struggled to cover the needs and the geographical areas.
Open conflict erupted in March 2015 in Yemen as part of a deeply entrenched power struggle between
different parties, combined with the intervention of a KSA-led foreign coalition.
1
This chain of events has
brought a humanitarian disaster upon Yemen. According to UNOCHA, over 82% (21.2 million) of
Yemenis cannot meet basic needs such as food, water, and medical supplies). Six months of conflict have
taken a very high toll on civilians‟ lives and violation of basic rights. Since 26 March, health facilities have
reported more than 32,200 casualties – many of them civilians. In the same period, OHCHR has verified
8,875 reports of human rights violations – an average of 43 violations every day. Verified incidents of child
death or injury from March to September are almost five times higher than the total number of cases
registered during 2014. Meanwhile the collapse of basic services in Yemen continues to accelerate. Partners
estimate that 14.1 million people lack sufficient access to healthcare; 3 million children and pregnant or
lactating women require malnutrition treatment or preventive services; and 1.8 million children have been out
of school since mid-March. Solid waste removal has come to a halt in several areas. Service availability is
rapidly contracting due to direct impact of conflict and insufficient resources to pay salaries or maintain
services. 2.3 million are currently displaced within Yemen – about half of whom are in Aden, Taiz, Hajja and
Al-Dhale‟a governorates – and an additional 121,000 have fled the country. About 2.7 million people now
require support to secure shelter or essential household supplies, including IDPs and vulnerable host
families. IDPs are currently sheltering in 260 schools, preventing access to education for 13,000 children.
2
In particular IDPs and the most vulnerable groups amongst the host community experience extreme
hardship at many levels and face severe protection risks: unsatisfied basic and psychosocial needs, difficulty
in accessing basic services such as health services, discrimination and exploitation (pushing the most
vulnerable into negative coping strategies).
The conflict has severely disrupted overall service provision (including health, water, education, etc.) and
destroyed local economic potential/opportunities, but also lead to a massive displacement of Yemenis,
unable to go back due to on-going conflict or due to the lack of proper shelter and services in their area of
origin. Displaced people mostly live in rented housing but the most vulnerable people are obliged to opt for
collective shelter arrangement, subjecting women, girls and children in particular to an increased risk for
GBV. Although not proven, but often cited by GBV actors, it is assumed that that the conflict also contributed
to greater tensions at household level, leading to increased levels of domestic violence (incl. physical assault
or psychological violence).
1.
1 Amidst the confusion and vanished institutions, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State (IS)
affiliate in the region strengthened their foothold in this corner of the Middle East.
2 Humanitarian Needs Overview Yemen 2016,
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2016_HNO_English_%20FINAL.pdf

4. 3
From 2015 Gender Based Violence Information Management System (GBV IMS) trend analysis it is noted
that there is an increased risk of girls and women engaging in negative coping mechanisms (especially child
marriage) and an increase in reported cases of physical and psychological assault, which negatively affects
the capacity to meet basic needs and livelihood opportunities for Yemeni families, exacerbating the indirect
impact of the conflict: men leaving the families to fight, leaving women alone to manage all daily aspects of
life, generating more social pressure and radicalisation of social-economic space for women. As a result of
the crisis there has been an increase in woman headed households.
3
GBV incidents remain underreported due to a general reluctance to report GBV incidents because of fear of
disclosure, social stigma, restricted mobility to access response services as well as fear of retaliation by the
perpetrators or own family/community. Gender relations in Yemen are complex and vary across the country,
including differences between North and South, urban and rural, families, and tribes. The North has been
traditionally more conservative than the South. Despite the fact that women have considerable productive
and reproductive responsibilities, they have limited participation in society and a lower status than men. Men
remain the ultimate decision-makers in and outside of the household. Women face various forms of violence
and discrimination ranging from domestic violence, early and forced marriage, denial of education, exclusion
from decision-making, female genital mutilation (FGM) and restriction of movement.
It is also important to note, that another particularly vulnerable group to face GBV are the Al-Muhamashin,
who are mostly concentrated in Hajja governorate. The origins of the group are unclear, but they are
considered the lowest status group in Yemeni social hierarchy. In particular, Al-Muhamashin women are
marginalized. Background
1.2.Objectives of the GBV Assessment
The following are the objectives of the assessment.
 To carry out a GBV protection assessment, focusing on physical assault as one of the most common
typology GBV reported in Yemen in 2015 as per the GBV IMS (2015) for INTERSOS UNFPA project
 To better understand the trend of physical assault in the current context of Yemen today (war,
displacement and poverty)
 To find out the perception of the local communities regarding associations and service providers
engaged in GBV prevention and response
 To identify particular vulnerabilities to be addressed for the prevention and response of physical
assault
 To suggest recommendations for better prevention and response combining efforts of communities,
humanitarian community and local associations/civil society
This thematic assessment also permits for an improved and contextualized response and prevention
programming.
1.3.Methodology
The assessment took place between 23 November and 10 December 2015, conducted in all 8 governorates
covered and included in the INTERSOS-UNFPA 2015 project activities, i.e. Hajjah, Sada‟a, Amran, Aden,
Abyan, Lahaj, Al-Dhalae and Shabwa. Following a pre-prepared questionnaire, focus group discussions
(FGDs) were conducted each governorate with 3 different target groups separately:
- Local Associations: assembling focal points and volunteers of local associations, INTERSOS
partners during 2015 project implementation.
- GBV survivors: identified and supported survivors of physical assault during the activities in 2015
by the partner associations.
- Communities: assembling community leaders and representatives the communities targeted by the
local associations during activities in 2015. It was kept in view that the sample composition for these
FGDs should present a broad spectrum of aspects of the population in these communities: e.g.
imam, lawyer, community network, teachers and social consultants.
In total 17 FGDs were conducted with 158 participants. The breakdown of the participant is presented here
below:
1.

5. 4
No Governorate GBV survivors Community Participants Associations Total
1 Hajjah 10 7 5 22
2 Amran 10 6 3 19
3 Sada'a 8 5 2 15
4 Aden 6 10 14 24
5 Abyan/Zingibar 7 10 - 17
6 Lahaj/ Tuban 6 - - 6
7 Lahaj/Al Mijhifa - 10 - 10
8 Al-Dhalae/Al-Dhalae 7 11 - 18
9 Shabwa/Ataq 10 11 - 21
10 Total 64 70 24 158
After the completion of the FGDs, initial data was analysed separately for both North and South. Afterwards,
a comparative analysis was undertaken between governorates and between North and South.
This report brings together the main findings relevant to the thematic assessment.
2. Findings
2.1.General Understanding of GBV and Physical Assault
- The FGD participants responded GBV is violence that is directed against a person (especially female
as she is vulnerable) based on the gender or sex. It includes aggressive acts that inflict physical,
mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty.
While women, men, boys and girls can be victims of gender-based violence, women and girls are the
main victims. It can occur by the family, the community or be perpetrated or condoned by people
who work for, or on behalf of, the state. Those actions or behaviours may be abuse of power and the
violation of human rights.
- GBV survivors of the assessment responded physical assault as an aggressive act against women
and children, girls and boys by men. The term of physical assault, according to associations, was
responded as any wrong use of physical force with the potential of causing death, disability, injury or
any other harm to a person.
2.2.Physical Assault Trends, Causes and Response
Physical assault against women is widely spread, as demonstrated by the GBV-IMS reporting in 2015: 31%
(495 out of 1.608) of reported GBV incidents were physical assault, 86% of the survivors were women (and
girls). In 2014 the total cases reported for physical assault were 339 out of 1.125 (35%).
During the assessment it became clear that most of the affected women prefer not to disclose GBV because
of stigma and fear for reprisals, including honour killing.
In Aden and Abyan 100% of FDG participants estimated an increase in physical assault.
In Shabwa, 77% stated an increase since March 2015.
In Al-Dhalae, however, 69% of the respondents suggested that physical assault against them has decreased
during and after the war. Fears and worries have led to more solidarity and mutual support among the family
members.
In Lahj 33% of the respondents responded with the increase in physical assault.
In Hajjah, 85% of participants estimate an increase in GBV, and in Amran 70%.
In Sada‟a physical assault was stated by participant to have increased in the governorate but it was also
explained that it is difficult to report due to stigma and cultural barriers. As such the percentage of reported
increase is approximately 40-50 %.
In Lahaj, the FGDs were organised in a rural community. 67% of the participants suggested that there is no
change in the incidents of physical assault. Representatives of women associations in Lahaj suggested that
the incidents have increased, but especially in urban areas.
Table 1.1 shows the increase trend in the physical assault in different governorates

6. 5
2.3.Reasons for increase in Physical Assault
According to the majority of the FGD participants, the current crisis which has heavily affected/disturbed the
life of people.
The main reasons given for increased physical abuse and changes in GBV trends were:
- displacement and separation of families
- influx of IDPs affecting communities
- no/limited employment opportunities for men
- lack of rule of law: no police protection and lack of overall governance
- lack of public attention/campaigning on GBV related issues
- lack of knowledge of women on their rights, individual rights protected under national law
- psychological distress and mental impact of the conflict
- geographical areas have been more affected by others due to conflict concentration
- traditional and cultural elements: pre-dominant male leadership, and gender based decisions, lack of
knowledge of women rights, family separation, and harmful traditional practices such as denial of
inheritance, forced/ early marriage and strict limitation of movement
- increase in substance abuse (alcohol and drugs), especially for Hajja reported on
- the denial of inheritance and strict limitation of movement was stated as more common in North than
South, especially in Hajjah and Amran
2.4.Frequency of physical violence
Per outcomes of the FGDs the frequency of physical assault is different between governorates. According to
the respondents violence is a general part of their daily life.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Aden
Abyan
Lahj
Al Dhalea
Shabwa
Hajja
Amran
Sadda
All Locations
Aden Abyan Lahj Al Dhalea Shabwa Hajja Amran Sadda
All
Locations
Increased 100 100 33 15 77 85 70 45 66%
No Changes 0 0 67 15 15 15 30 55 25%
Decreased 0 0 0 69 8 0 0 0 10%
% of respondants, suggesting trends in physical assault

7. 6
In Hajjah, it was responded, that the frequency of violence is daily. In Amran, the frequency of physical
assault was on average five times a week, while in Sada‟a the frequency reported was once a week. In other
governorates the frequency of facing physical violence varied from daily in Aden, to 1-2 times in Abyan and 1
time per week in Lahj, Al-Dhalae numbers indicated1 to 2 times per month and in Shabwa 1-2 times per
week.
While the number in Sa‟ada appears the lowest, it is important to understand that GBV is believed to be
underreported in the governorate due a more conservative and closed society.
During the FGD local associations‟ representatives responded that the number of cases, seeking for help
has dramatically increased, due to increased incidents and the awareness program leading to increased
reporting. The estimated increase varies between 10-30% in Al-Dhalea to 70-80 % in Aden and Abyan.
38% of the interviewed survivors, who had also been supported as survivor by the local associations,
reported that the frequency of physical assault against them had reduced because of the awareness
consultations. However, 48% of the participants responded that the incidents against them have increased.
In Shabwa, 70% of the respondents suggested that physical assault directed to them has increased. Most of
the survivors were part of a marginalised group of workers that came from outside the governorate. They
mentioned frustration and aggressive behaviour of their husbands, as a result of the difficult economic
situation following the current crisis as the main trigger for increased violence. In Sada‟a, Amran, and Hajja
allsurvivors declared that there was an increased number of incidents in 2015 despite the awareness and
consultation of the local associations.
Table 1.2 shows the increase/ decrease trend of physical assault of survivors after consultations with LNGOs
.
2.5.Most common Injuries received by survivor

8. 7
The most common injuries that the survivors received have similarities in common in the targeted
governorates. These are burnings, fractures, bleedings especially nose bleeding, prolapsed of womb
4
, back-
sliding, bruising and internal bleeding. According to the FGD these injuries lead to psychological
consequences such as chronic fearing and phobia, higher blood pressure, beating with sharp objects,
injuries on the spine and during 2015 a high number of miscarriages were reported.
2.6.Most vulnerable groups at Risk of Physical Assault
The FGD participant stated the following groups as the most vulnerable:
- Poor and illiterate women are the group mostly subjected to physical assault. FGDs responded that
uneducated poor women are more affected than educated ones because educated women are
seemingly more aware of their rights.
- Marginalised poor women are more likely to be subject to physical assault. In particular the
marginalised populations, called Al-Mohamasheen, suffer social and economic discrimination,
making it difficult to escape the cycle of poverty, violence, and intolerance that characterizes their
lives. Some of the most critical problems affecting the Al-Mohamasheen population are the lack of
access to adequate housing, employment, education, and basic social services.
5
- Divorced women were considered as very vulnerable. They are rejected by the community and more
likely to be subject to physical assault, psychological violence and restriction of movement. A
divorced/single woman could be a victim of forced marriage.
- Girls are likely to be subjected to physical assaults by their brothers and parents, as a result of
preference towards boys in the Yemeni culture. Respondents suggested that this kind of domestic
violence has increased as a result of the war, the economic situation and influences of radical
groups.
- Employed women could also be physical assaulted, especially if refusing to give their income to
husband or brothers.
- Overall it was considered that a woman without protection of her family is more vulnerable.
- Respondents suggested that some families returned their daughters back to their perpetrators, just
because they could not afford food for them and their children.
2.7.Most common perpetrators
The FGD participants responded that poor jobless husbands are the most common perpetrators.
According to FGD participants, in general, uneducated men are more intolerant and more aggressive than
educated ones, due to limited access to labour market.
Table 1.3 shows the most vulnerable groups and the most common perpetrators
Vulnerable groups Perpetrator
Group Social and economic Characteristics Group Social and economic Characteristics
Wives Poor , uneducated,
lack of parent protection
Marginalised
Husbands Poor, unemployed, uneducated
Intolerant and aggressive behaviour
Marginalised community
Alcohol and drug addicted
Divorced/widows Not self-reliant ( Unemployed, No skills)
Have small children
Without or poor parents
Parents
Brothers
Poor families
Careless parents
Marginalised community
1.
4
Prolapsed of womb is the weakness of muscles that do not support the Uterus. Some husbands have hit their wives in
the genital parts that caused this.
5
UN Women Country Assessment on Violence Against Women in Yemen, 2010
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ianwge/taskforces/vaw/Country_Assessment_on_Violence_against_Women_August_2_
2010.pdf

9. 8
Children Orphans
Children of divorced mothers
Homeless and unaccompanied children
Relatives
Mother
Employers
Poor , uneducated families
Marginalised group
Mother suffers from physical assault
Girls Strong preference for boys in the family
Absence/ Weak control of parents
Brothers Intolerant behaviour
Influenced by misinterpretation of Islamic
values
Employed women - Husbands
Brothers and
In-laws
Jobless or limited income
Qat addicted
3. Response to Physical Assault:
According to the FGDs, most of the women survivors approach their families for help and protection in case
of physical violence.
The community members - FGD participants replied that:
- In Hajjah, the participants responded that based on the physical, medical or a psychological
condition of the case a decision is taken. In the event of injuries cases are taken directly to hospital
and to psychosocial services. It was also responded that due to the lack of police the cases are now
referred to Ansar Allah or to community elders that solve the cases via mediation.
- In Amran most of the survivors are referred to Yemen Women Union. In case of need for medical
services the cases are referred to Amran public hospital. Due to lack of the functioning of police and
legal sector, cases are sometimes also referred to Ansar Allah. Overall according to the participants
in most of the cases women are not provided the chance of defending themselves due to gender
discrimination. Some cases are also referred to the local imams.
- In Sada‟a the community referred the cases to YWU for psychological support and also to Al-Salaam
hospital for medical assistance. Some cases were solved via community mediation.
- In Aden, neighbours and community elders mediate in solving domestic problems and even before
the war women approached the YWU if they did not get enough support and protection from their
families.
- In some FGDs it was responded that survivors approach the family first, then the YWU or any other
local association working on GBV issues or requesting trusted women for advice (mostly female
community elders), in addition to sheikhs or other community elders for mediation.
- During the FGDs it was stated that marginalised women have less barriers to reporting compared to
other survivors. They can more easily access place for help and protection, e.g. the police, a sheik,
an association or any group controlling the area.
Overall it appears that legal assistance is less an option, while (community) mediation being more common,
in addition to looking for psychosocial support from local associations and medical referral if needed to
medical service providers.
3.1. Response by local associations
According to the respondents of the local associations, the survivor is referred to medical services in case of
need. The associations accompany the survivor to the medical facility or only refer out sheet is filled for
medical services.
In partnership with INTERSOS, in 2015 30 local associations have been working on GBV prevention and
response spread over 8 governorates (3 in North and 5 in South). These associations conduct advocacy and
raise awareness, and provide case management services, including different types of counselling and
support to the survivors including:
- Psychological first aid and psychosocial counselling
- External referring of cases for legal support, if required and requested, especially to the YWU
Note: For Sada‟a it was responded that local parties do not always support legal actions and prefer
mediation at the family level
- Emergency cash assistance for medical or legal aid for the most vulnerable cases
- Support/accompany cases for mediation
- Provision of safe shelter/accommodations for affected children (in Aden only)

10. 9
- Referral of serious cases to UNFPA temporary shelter (Al-Hudaida and Sana‟a)
- Conciliation between the survivor, community and perpetrator
- Reporting GBV incidents for recording to international organizations and UN agencies
- Advocacy for GBV more and better quality response
3.2.Survivor seeking for assistance
During the assessment it was reported most of the affected women/survivors approached their families for
help.
It is not very frequent, especially in tribal communities, that a woman approaches the police or court.
For instance in Shabwa and Al-Dalae, it is most common for women survivors to approach their families,
waiting until the husband apologise or solve the problem internally. According to the participants, in case of
repeating incidents of physical abuse, the family then also sets more conditions to let the woman to return to
her husband. It is also common to demand the perpetrator to pay living expenses or „penalties‟ for his
committed acts of violence. This process is quite often facilitated by an external mediator or arbitrators.
Some of the survivors responded that after approaching their family, they also approached the YWU or any
other association working in GBV, and even in some cases also other trusted women are approached for
advice. In some cases a survivor may approach a Sheikh.
In Amran and Sada‟a survivors stated to sometimes approach Ansar Allah and local imams. In north, it was
reported that some imams are considered as „expert‟ in solving domestic problems.
3.3.Prevention/mitigation of physical assault at different levels
According to the FGDs participants, physical assault is a complex problem, resulting from cultural, social and
economic factors. Participants of the FGDs discussed the situation and proposed a set of actions at different
levels. The proposed actions per outcome from the FGDs are summarised in the table below:
Table 1.4 shows the summary of reducing physical violence at different levels
Level Summary of situation review Suggestion to reduce/mitigate Physical assault
Household  Strong preference of boys
over girls in the family led to
more VAW and GBV. There is
a lack of listening and
understanding to each other.
 Lack of knowledge about
basic rights and values.
 Misinterpretation of Islamic
values.
 Violence has very negative
implications on children‟s
lives.
 Poverty increases the risk for
GBV.
 Work on knowledge and awareness of women
and girls in coping with/addressing GBV.
 House to house awareness raising including;
women and children‟s rights, dealing with
internal conflict, explaining the negative and
long term impact of violence on families and
especially children.
 Skill training, livelihood and income generating
activities to share responsibilities, increase
self-reliance and develop self-esteem and
understanding of one‟s abilities and potential.
Community  There are many potentials in
the communities to do more
to combat VAW and GBV.
 In general, violence is not
accepted in the community,
and especially not against
women and children.
 Solidarity, justice, support
and protection of vulnerable
people is part of Yemeni
tradition and the Islamic
values.
 However, the community
 Improve and depart from understanding of the
respective communities (incl. cultural aspects)
and develop awareness plans accordingly.
 Conduct awareness at community level on the
impact and consequences of GBV at
household and community level.
 Build the capacity of communities in timely
reporting of GBV cases and stress the
importance of confidentiality to prevent stigma.
 Development of culturally appropriate and easy
understandable IEC materials for mass
distribution at the community level, especially
exposing health consequences of GBV

11. 10
Level Summary of situation review Suggestion to reduce/mitigate Physical assault
doesn‟t take joint initiatives to
reduce GBV; overall there is
a lack of initiatives fostering
community mobilisation and
promotion of community
based protection
mechanisms.
 Continuous innovation and creativity in
developing GBV response and prevention
messages.
 Increase mobilisation of imams of mosques for
awareness raising against VAW and GBV.
 Increase safe spaces at community level
through the support for establishment and
development of women and youth centres.
 Support the survivors through the provision of
psychological, medical and legal assistance.
 Establishment of community based protection
networks - volunteer social workers.
 Reduction of prevalence of alcohol and drug
abuse
At the legal
level
 Too many laws without actual
implementation. Some laws
need to be revised.
 Legal processes take long
time.
 Corruption is widespread in
police and judiciary system.
 Safety and confidentiality are
not granted for GBV survivors
especially women.
 Legal protection for women is
not well known to the majority
of the population.
 Gender imbalance in police
and judiciary.
 Overall women‟s access to
justice is very difficult
 Currently judiciary and police
systems have collapsed.
 Provision of strong legal protection for GBV
survivors, including following up the case in the
court if needed.
 Increasing funding for legal protection fund for
associations and national NGOs.
 Speed up legal processes.
 Raising awareness about related legal issues.
 More transparency and eradication of
corruption.
 Establishment of women‟s section at the police
stations to deal with women issues.
6
 Employment of female staff in police and
judicial institutions.
 Invest in GBV capacity building of the legal
sector
 Assurance of confidentiality.
 Improved women access to justice systems
and facilitate safe and dignified access to
justice.
 Support the strengthening of capacities of the
judiciary and police to investigate and judge
GBV.
In medical
sector
 Hospitals and clinics do not
grant/assure confidentiality.
 Lack of proper protocols for
referral and case
management and qualified
staff to deal with GBV.
 Recruitment of specialised personnel to
provide physical and psychological treatment.
 Assure high confidentiality and follow-up
violating of confidentiality.
 Provide subsidised medicine and treatments
for survivors of GBV.
 Building the capacity of health staff in dealing
with GBV, including CMR.
 Establishment of women networks and training
them in in GBV because all the cases cannot
either have access to medical facilities or
cannot go for cultural reasons.
In abroad
spectrum
 The central government
endorsed a lot of strategies,
but implementation remains a
challenge.
 Implementation of poverty alleviation
programs.
 Political and economic empowerment of
women.
1.
*)6
According to rrespondents of Aden FG: In 2006, under the umbrella, Women Access to Justice, supported by Oxfam, the YWU and
the Ministry of Interior – Aden Branch established a pilot women section, to deal with women related issues. A few years later, a new
chief of the security forces in Aden cancelled the project.

12. 11
Level Summary of situation review Suggestion to reduce/mitigate Physical assault
 Gender gap is very large.
 Local authorities are lacking
gender oriented
programming.
 Many national and
international organisations
are working on GBV related
issues. However, there is a
gap of coordination,
especially at implementation
levels.
 Introduction of gender equality in the education
curriculum and overall push for education
promotion.
 Advocacy at national and international level for
the prevention and response of GBV.
 Advocacy on GBV for different groups.
 Campaigning by using media channels.
 More coordination between all actors‟ incl. local
authorities, communities, LNGOs and INGOs.
Others Marginalised communities
Suffer discrimination, poverty,
violence, access to basic services,
etc. GBV is wide spread among
this group.
 Integrated interventions
 Forming and training of community leaders and
volunteers.
 Provide special training for staff working with
marginalised groups.
 Local associations should encourage members
from the community to join the associations.
 Provide a safe place for those women and
children, who are under permanent risk of
violence
 Provision of mental health care‟s especially
for husbands having mental health problems.
 Provision of temporary shelter
3.4.General impressions about the organizations working for GBV or VAW
The feedback from the FGD participants concerning the organisations working against GBV is summarised
below:
General
impression
According to FGD participants the associations provide considerable services, which
are not provided by governmental institutions, including; advocacy for women‟s rights
and helping affected women. However, they have limited capacities to cover this
complex problem.
Acceptance Overall, there is an acceptance for associations working against GBV. There is mutual
respect between the communities and the associations. Some of the community
members don't recognize these services. Instead, they prefer more tangible material
services. Due to the conservative community culture, there are some objections/fears
for these associations to interfere in family issues. GBV is misunderstood by some
people. The associations, especially in Abyan, Aden and Sada‟a expressed fears of
the influence of radical conservative groups, which may affect the acceptance and
their activities.
Make difference According to the FGDs‟ participants, in general, the association have led to some
improvements including; raising awareness about women‟s rights, change of attitude,
discussion and to some extend reducing GBV.
Survivor respondents suggested that the associations have provided urgent needs and
support and made considerable change in reduction of frequency of GBV directed to
them, especially in the South. In the North, the participants responded that the
associations have provided them with the chance to discuss the sensitive issues such

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as GBV which was not common to discuss before. However, the challenges are
beyond the capacities of the local associations. Therefore a long term impact is limited.
Expectations  In order to have better impact the associations should provide more integrated
interventions, including; economic empowerment (skill training, livelihood
activities), health and legal assistance
 The associations should focus on building capacities in the community to address
GBV including
 Forming of community committees
 Training of volunteers/ activists to carry out awareness raising, provision of advice
to survivors
 Support establishment of community based youth and women‟s centres
 Plans for awareness session as per the culture and context of the governorate
 Strengthen and develop health services needed to GBV survivors
 Advocacy for „Al-Muhamashin‟ internally and externally to be respected and
achieve equal rights and treatment in the community as mentioned by Hajjah
FGDs‟ participants.
 Provision and secure shelter for GBV survivors
Strengthening
Coordination
More coordination with the community;
 Strengthen involvement of community members in awareness raising
 Strengthen and establish coordination with the CBOs and professional groups
(e.g. teachers, health personnel, police, lawyers, etc.)
 Establish participatory network at the level of governorates to monitor GBV cases
 Involve community in the design of prevention strategies that address root causes
and contributing factors
 Establish GBV referral pathways in each governorates and conducting a
mobilization for communities to be aware of the availability of referral model
 Establish good relations with imams of mosques to raise the awareness for
communities on GBV and to advocacy more for gender equality and equal
treatment for all and respect of human rights

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4. Conclusions
The current conflict caused displacement in most governorates, leading to family separation and economic
crisis. The influx of IDPs has affected the income of the people and ultimately led to frustration, including at
the family level. As mentioned in the FGDs:
- People have lesser jobs opportunities due to the lack of proper government structures, the war and
crisis.
- The unemployment and lack of income has caused frustration, aggressive behaviour and distress.
- Also the lack of rule of law has led people to be prone to different types of violence.
- Due to the absence or weak structure of police, people are more dependents on personal or local
militias or groups.
GBV response and prevention need improvements at different levels. Improving the knowledge of women
and girls at the family level in coping with GBV, and door to door awareness covering women rights, children
rights, the ability of dealing with internal conflict at the family level and inform especially men about the
negative and long term impacts of GBV. When planning for awareness raising, it is important to know and
consider the cultural context of a respective community. During the assessment it was found that response
to GBV cases can be improved by building the capacity of the community in terms of timely reporting as well
as improving the legal sector. There should be strong legal protection for GBV victims including presentation
and following up in the courts, but also laws need to be revised and effectively implemented, but even more
so women and girls need to be made better aware of their legal rights.
The associations also suggested:
- Funding for legal protection should be increased in addition to invest in capacity building of the legal
actors.
- For the medical sector, the staff capacity should be built especially in GBV and CMR.
- Provision of subsidised medicine for GBV survivors should be ensured. Shelter options should be
improved and increased.
- Poverty alleviation programs and the empowerment of women and girls can reduce the prevalence
of VAW and GBV.
- In addition, gender equality should be mainstreamed in the education curriculum. Advocacy to
eliminate VAW and ensure GBV prevention and response can reduce GBV. For this purpose, there
should be more qualitative and result-oriented coordination efforts among agencies.
Marginalised groups are more subject to violence. Staff and volunteers of different actors engaged in GBV
prevention and response activities should specifically be trained in dealing with marginalised groups.
The assessment demonstrated a high community acceptance of the associations and organizations working
on GBV related issues in the different governorates. The community participants stated that the associations
provide good services, especially advocating for women rights and other more sensitive issues. Working on
GBV in the context of Yemen is challenging. Some of the people in the communities misunderstand GBV
case management services and women rights. There are also some community members who are more
interested in more tangible programming rather than services. Due to the increase in radicalization,
associations also fear increased retaliations and pressure. The communities also expect associations to
provide different services especially referencing to income generation activities. According to the
assessment, the associations have led to some improvements. The associations provide the opportunity for
communities to discuss sensitive issues. These including raising awareness about women‟s rights, change
of attitudes and practices, enable discussion and to some extend contribute to perceived reduction in GBV.
Especially in the South, with the efforts of the associations‟ focal points and consultations with survivors, the
violence was stated to have reduced by 38%. In the North, the associations have provided communities with
the chance to discuss the sensitive issues such as GBV which was not common to discuss before. The
associations also provided the chance to bring different subjects to the table and permit for awareness
sessions where survivors and community members attended together. It should also be noticed that the
country is in a complex crisis and the present situation affects the capacities of the local associations.

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The assessment provided programming suggestions for an improved programing of GBV. The community
should be more actively involved in GBV prevention strategies addressing both root causes and contributing
factors. The coordination at the community level should be more strengthened. School teachers, health
personnel, police and lawyers should be involved at the community level in awareness raising and
advocating for GBV. Referral pathways should be strengthened in each governorates and the community
should be aware and informed about the referral pathways. The assessment also stressed the potential
positive role of imams. Imams could be mobilized in awareness raising, advocating for women and children
rights. In addition to GBV services, the associations‟ and organizations are expected to provide more
services such as livelihood opportunities, training of community volunteers in addressing GBV, and provision
of secure and safe shelter for GBV survivors. Safe spaces at the community level can be created as part of
community efforts, such as women or youth centres, where women/girls/youth can share their problems and
work together towards solutions and alternatives.