On 02 May 2015, the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) launched its special human rights report entitled: “Yemeni journalists and human rights defenders at risk during wartime.”

This special report provides background on the political context and the conflict in the country in the aftermath of the 18 March 2011 revolution in Yemen until now. It highlights the deterioration of security conditions as result of the power vacuum and continued violence.

Released on World Press Freedom Day, the report discusses the situation of the freedom of media and the challenges facing journalists in Yemen. “Media freedom has been compromised during the conflict, with little media neutrality, and electricity outages mean online sources of independent news are not always available,” says the report. At a time when journalists become increasingly targeted by armed groups, the report tells the stories of human rights defenders and journalists who faced threats or were targeted as a result of the worsening situation and increased violence against the media freedom. 

The report concludes with a set of recommendations for both the Arab League member states and all conflicted parties in Yemen to take all necessary steps toward peace and negotiations in respect of human rights and safety for Yemeni human rights defenders.

 “We want our local powers to address the discourse of peace and negotiations. Forces in Yemen should keep encouraging peace talks. Our struggle is not to feed conflicts but to mitigate and resolve conflicts. And women’s participation in such negotiations is key,” said Wameedh Shaker, a national gender consultant and Yemeni human rights defender.

 The full report is available HERE.