Women Leaders and Parliamentarians Discuss Strengthening Responses to Yemen’s Crisis
The Mokha Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with Forward Thinking and the Raydan Forum, organized a discussion session titled “ Strengthening Parliamentary Responses to Yemen: Women’s Empowerment, Protection, Livelihoods, and Natural Resource Management,” bringing together a distinguished group of women leaders, parliamentarians, and experts. The session addressed key challenges facing Yemen the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region and Europe.
Held in a hybrid format combining in-person and online participation, the session focused on the gendered and environmental impacts of the humanitarian crisis and ongoing war in Yemen. It also examined the effects of continued conflict on water and energy security, displacement, women’s empowerment, and the protection of natural resources.
Participants emphasized the need to identify effective responses to strengthen the protection and economic empowerment of Yemeni women. They also highlighted the importance of sustainable management of natural resources, which have significantly deteriorated over more than a decade of conflict. Enhancing parliamentary engagement across Europe and the region to support Yemen-related issues—aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—was also identified as a key priority.
The session further showcased inspiring examples of Yemeni women leading resilience and recovery efforts in post-conflict contexts, with these experiences considered transferable to other conflict-affected regions.
Discussions also addressed the risks posed by the ongoing war in West Asia to the sustainability of water and energy sectors. Experts noted that damage to infrastructure in these sectors not only affects public health and access to food but also places additional burdens on women and girls, increases migration pressures, and creates security risks that may extend to Europe.
The session concluded with a call to develop gender-responsive policies and legislative priorities that ensure the resilience of vital sectors in times of conflict. Participants also stressed the importance of cross-border parliamentary cooperation to integrate water and energy security into national security and foreign policy strategies, contributing to broader regional and international stability.
