Women in the Era of the Houthi Militia

Yemeni women are the biggest victims of the ongoing war in Yemen. Since the coup that started the war back in 2014, women have been exposed to all kinds ofviolations against their rights by the Houthi Militiafrom kidnapping, assault, harassment, to imprisonment.These acts practiced by the militia affects women psychologically and physically which also affects their health negatively. 

Women in Houthi-controlled areas are subjected to arbitrary arrest, especially female human rights activists and journalists, as the Houthi militia arrests them because of their political or human rights activities. And anyone who does not see eye to eye with them gets thrown into prison, where they use horrendous methods of torture.

They also face the crime of rape by the Houthis who takes advantage of their authority to scare women and use them for personal satisfaction. Then use the judicial system to get away with their crimes, depriving them of every bit of hope that exists.

The amount of gender-based discrimination women encounter by the Houthis in Yemen is atrocious, while the level of protection is non-existent, leaving them vulnerable against a group thirsty for violence. Thus gender-based violence against women has escalated since the beginning of the war, reaching nearly 70%.

Reports from human rights organizations show that the Houthi Militia have committed more than 10 thousand violations against women until March 2024. Meaning that thousands of women were denied the probability of living a normal life.

The international community, the United Nations, and the parties involved in this file must take serious steps to end this violence caused by the terrorist Houthi Milita against the Yemeni women who struggle to be part of the society they live in, which is her simplest right.