Marking International Women’s Day 2026, the “Protecting Women Leads to Societal Development” Project Concludes

[Press release]

Aden – Coinciding with International Women’s Day, observed annually on 8 March, UN Women Yemen today concluded the activities of the “Protecting Women Leads to Societal Development” project in the city of Aden. The project was implemented with support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and in partnership with the For All Foundation for Development.

This event marked the culmination of a full year of project implementation in the governorates of Aden and Taiz, aiming to strengthen protection services and responses to gender-based violence, and to expand access to psychosocial and legal support for the most vulnerable women and girls, particularly in conflict-affected contexts.

During the closing ceremony, Ribal Sari El-Din, Operations Manager at UN Women in Yemen, highlighted on behalf of the UN Women Representative in Yemen that protecting women is a central pillar of the project’s strategic framework due to its direct impact on strengthening institutional capacities and linking women’s protection to sustainable community development. He noted that the project focused on building the capacities of governmental and non-governmental institutions in managing gender-based violence cases and facilitating women’s and girls’ access to protection, psychosocial support, and other essential services. He emphasized that protecting women is a key entry point for achieving sustainable development and building more stable communities.

For her part, Judge Ishraq Al-Muqtari, Minister of Legal Affairs, stated that 8 March represents an important occasion to celebrate the role of Yemeni women, particularly in light of the difficult circumstances facing the country. She noted that the Yemeni government, as a partner of UN Women, is working to strengthen policies aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and addressing existing gaps in women’s issues, contributing to their empowerment and enhanced participation across various sectors.

Al-Muqtari also commended the active role of women within the current government and the positive engagement of political leadership in supporting women’s participation in decision-making. She praised the efforts of those involved in implementing the project to strengthen protection systems for women and girls, as well as the support provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in implementing such humanitarian and development initiatives.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sadiq Al-Jama’i, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, emphasized that protecting women is an integral part of the state’s objectives, particularly given Yemen’s political, economic, and social challenges. He explained that the ministry is working to adopt policies that support women’s roles and strengthen institutional approaches to responding to gender-based violence, including improving referral networks and coordination among relevant entities to ensure integrated services for women and girls.

He also affirmed the ministry’s commitment to continuing coordination with international and local partners to expand services, improve the quality of responses to gender-based violence, and strengthen partnerships with supporting organizations to advance women’s issues in Yemen. He commended the important role played by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in supporting women across humanitarian and development sectors.

For her part, Sabah Badri, Head of the For All Foundation for Development, reviewed the project’s objectives, which targeted the governorates of Aden and Taiz from March 2025 to January 2026 and reached more than 19,000 women and girls through four protection centers. She explained that the project aimed to strengthen protection services and responses to gender-based violence and expand access to psychosocial and legal support services for the most vulnerable women and girls, particularly in conflict-affected areas. The project also focused on enhancing protection for displaced women and girls and survivors of violence. She expressed pride in the pivotal role women play in society and announced a step toward ensuring the sustainability of the community center in Aden.

Project implementers noted that during the implementation period in Aden and Taiz, 325 personnel from 69 government entities, civil society organizations, protection centers, and hotlines were trained on gender-based violence case management, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and referral systems. The project also supported and operated two coordination networks for case management.

Additionally, the project contributed to the operation of four community protection centers in Taiz, Al-Mokha, and Aden, which provided services to 19,582 women and girls. These included psychosocial support sessions for 12,362 beneficiaries, legal consultations and awareness support for 3,171 beneficiaries, and 1,072 referrals to specialized services. The project also organized 187 community awareness sessions reaching approximately 3,000 people.

The event also featured a documentary film showcasing success stories from the field and included recognition of several staff members and supporting partners.

Participants emphasized that the project represents a model of effective partnership in strengthening the protection of women and girls in conflict-affected contexts.