The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, disproportionately affecting women and girls due to escalating violence,  the impact of the climate crisis, ongoing blockages and seizure of oil, food, medical supplies and equipment, and the worsening economic situation. Additionally, conditions in camps for internally displaced persons, particularly women and girls, often fail to meet fundamental needs, with women unable to acquire essential hygiene products. The range of violations targeting women in Yemen has been well articulated and documented by civil society, treaty bodies, including CEDAW, and the Human Rights Council. Women and girls continue to be affected by the Houthi regulations governing freedom of movement, which infringe on women’s right to work and access public spaces, including through the ad-hoc and arbitrary enforcement of requirements for national female humanitarian staff to travel with a mahram (a male family member). Despite numerous calls to cease this violence, human rights defenders, peacebuilders, journalists, politically active women, and leaders face increasing threats and risks, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and even targeted killings, as was most recently seen in the killing of journalist Rasha Abdullah Al Harazi, and the ongoing arbitrary detention of journalist Hala Badawi. The Security Council should urgently call for an immediate end to hostilities, in line with resolution 2532 (2020), which would support viable conditions for protecting civilians, including women, and lead to a resumption of peace negotiations.

Accountability, justice, and human rights must be at the core of all efforts to seek a political solution and end the current conflict. Council members must condemn the ongoing culture of impunity and call for accountability for the widespread and systematic abuses carried out by all parties to the conflict and their supporters that have killed and injured tens of thousands of civilians. Council members must continue to emphasize the necessity of an inclusive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process with the full, equal and meaningful participation of diverse women, youth and civil society of all political backgrounds from all regions of Yemen, in all diplomatic tracks and stages of the peace process, and offer their full support to the Special Envoy in consulting regularly and transparently with civil society, especially diverse women’s groups, which should be supported through core, flexible and long-term funding. A core driver of the conflict in Yemen is the proliferation of weapons. Thus, the Council should consider the recommendations made by civil society briefers and the Panel of Experts, which includes a call for all States to cease arms transfers and other support to the conflict parties and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Finally, Council members should call for updates on the work of the UN system in supporting the implementation of the NAP on Resolution 1325 (2000) for Yemen in partnership with women-led organizations.