Source: The World Factbook. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2023.

International and Regional Human Rights Agreements

* Category includes ratification, accession, or succession to the treaty

Constitutional Framework

The current Constitution of Yemen was ratified by popular referendum on May 16, 1991, with amendments made in 2001. Relevant constitutional provisions include:

• Article (48)(a): “The state shall guarantee to its citizens their personal freedom, and preserve their dignity and their security. The law shall define the cases in which citizens’ freedom may be restricted. Personal freedom cannot be restricted without the decision of a competent court of law.”
• Article (51): “Citizens have the right of recourse to the courts to protect their rights and lawful interests. They also have the right to submit their complaints, criticisms, and suggestions to the various government bodies directly or indirectly.”
• Article (53): “The state shall guarantee the freedom and confidentiality of mail, telephone, telegram and all other means of communication, none of which may be censored, searched, exposed, delayed or confiscated except in cases specified by law and according to a court order.”
• Article (58): “In as much as it is not contrary to the Constitution, the citizens may organize themselves along political, professional and union lines. They have the right to form associations in scientific, cultural, social and national unions in a way that serves the goals of the Constitution. The state shall guarantee these rights, and shall take the necessary measures to enable citizens to exercise them. The state shall guarantee freedom for the political, trade, cultural, scientific and social organizations.”

National Laws and Regulations Affecting Sector

Relevant national legislation governing civil society includes the following:

• Law on Associations and Foundations (Law 1 of 2001) [English] [عربي]
• Implementing Regulations for the Law on Associations and Foundations [English] [عربي]
• Law on Cooperatives and Unions
• Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism
• Executive Statutes No. 129 for the year 2004

Pending NGO Legislative / Regulatory Initiatives

Yemen’s Ministry of Legal Affairs developed a new draft CSO law in late 2014. The draft law was expected to be submitted to the government and then to Parliament in 2015 but ongoing political, security, and humanitarian crises following the takeover of government institutions by the Houthi rebels in February 2015 and subsequent military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition has stalled all legal developments.

In addition, the 17-member committee formed to draft Yemen’s new Constitution completed its first draft in January 2015. In light of the political turmoil in the country, it is likely that the draft it will be significantly amended before being submitted for a public referendum. As issued in January 2015, however, the draft Constitution contains several enabling articles that pertain to freedom of association. An unofficial translation of these articles follows, below:

Article 111: Citizens have the right to create associations, foundations, and civil society organizations upon notification. In their creation, management, and operation, these organizations must adhere to the principles of democracy, good governance, and transparency of accounts, revenues, and sources of funding. The State guarantees their independence and freedom to carry out their activities, and may not halt their activities or dissolve them or their administrative bodies except upon a court order.

Article 134: Rights and freedoms contained in this Constitution shall not be disrupted, deviated from, or compromised in any way. In cases where the law provides for the development of regulations to control these rights and freedoms, such regulations shall not affect the origin of the right, or its essence or content. The regulations shall not be developed except as necessary and in order to protect the rights of others, public order, or public morals, and they shall be within the minimum necessary for these purposes, as required by the foundations of the civil democratic states, provided that they are not limited to a specific case.

Article 10: The State is committed to respecting the United Nations Charter, the League of Arab States Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to international charters and treaties ratified by the legislature, and generally recognized principles of international law.

The draft was developed with substantial opportunities for CSOs to submit their suggestions and feedback during the committee’s drafting process. If the draft is adopted, it will provide a stronger constitutional basis for the protection of freedom of association and a supportive legal environment for civil society in Yemen.

Please help keep us informed; if you are aware of pending initiatives, write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

Organizational Forms

CSOs in Yemen can take one of two forms: associations or foundations.

The Law on Associations and Foundations (Law No. 1 of 2001) governs their establishment and operation. Under Article 2, an association is defined as: “any popular group established in accordance with this law by natural persons the least number of which is 21 persons at the time of application for the establishment thereof and 41 persons at the constituent meeting, the primary purpose of which is the realization of a common benefit for a specific social group, or to undertake activities or functions that are of a public benefit, and which does not seek from its activities to generate a financial profit for its members, and the membership of which shall be open in accordance with the conditions spelled out in the organizational procedures.”

The law does not set out separate governance provisions for foundations.

Both associations and foundations are required to register with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) in Sana’a or its local offices in the governorates. However, due to the country’s political divisions, local organizations are now effectively required to register twice: once with the ministry affiliated with the internationally-recognized government and again with the ministry controlled by the Houthis.

According to the CSO Sustainability Index, “there are no up-to-date official statistics on the number of CSOs in Yemen. Most of these organizations work in philanthropy, while others work in social development, democracy, and human rights. However, the most recent estimates in late 2018 from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) were that there were 13,200 registered CSOs across the country, including both active and inactive CSOs.” Most of these organizations work in philanthropy, while others work in social development, democracy, and human rights.

Public Benefit Status

Law No. 1 of 2001 allows associations to be established for either mutual (group) benefit or public benefit purposes, while foundations are required to pursue public benefit purposes.

Under the law, all associations and foundations are entitled to certain tax exemptions. These include exemptions from customs fees on imports necessary for their work, as well as on gifts and grants from overseas, subject to approval by the Minister of Finance. Article 18 of the law obliges the government to provide financial and material support to associations serving a public benefit. However, the law neither defines what constitutes “public benefit” nor establishes a process for CSOs to obtain public benefit or tax-exempt status.

Public Participation

Yemeni laws generally support civic participation in public life. The Constitution guarantees access to information, and citizens are, in principle, permitted to engage in public affairs. In practice, civic participation faces significant constraints.

Awareness of the right to participate remains very limited. Only a small segment of the population—primarily activists, politicians, and media professionals—are aware of available participation mechanisms, while the majority of citizens remain uniformed due in part to low literacy rates. The government has not undertaken efforts to publicize available mechanisms or to facilitate citizen engagement.

While Yemeni law, including the Criminal Procedure Code, allows citizens to submit communications to the police or public prosecution if there are violations of Yemeni laws, authorities frequently target activists who attempt to use these mechanisms. Journalists encounter additional restrictions under the Press and Publications Code No. 25 of 1990, which contains numerous provisions limiting their work and exposing them to legal liability.

Although many government bodies formally encourage associations to participate in the formulation of laws and policies, such engagement is largely symbolic. Associations are generally expected to endorse government proposals rather than offer independent input. As a result, opportunities for meaningful participation in public policy making remain limited.

Since the Houthis gained control in Yemen’s northern provinces, restrictions on women’s freedom movement have further undermined civic participation. Women in Houthi-controlled areas are prohibited from traveling without a male guardian or written approval from a male guardian submitted to the Ministry of Interior in Sana’a. These requirements have significantly hampered women’s ability to participate in community activities.

Barriers to Formation

Under Law No. 1 of 2001, an association must have at least 21 members at the time of application and 41 at its inaugural meeting. Implementing regulations require associations to deposit one million Yemeni rials (approximately USD 4,000) in a bank account before they can register.

In 2021, registration forms were updated, further complicating the licensing process for CSOs. Organizations were required to provide detailed information, including staff data and bank account details. While some of these requirements are grounded in the law, others are extra-legal and lack a clear legal basis.

Forms and procedures vary significantly between Sana’a and Aden, and CSOs registered in one area are not recognized in the other, effectively forcing them to establish headquarters in both areas. This dual registration process has placed a heavy financial and administrative burden on CSOs, making it more difficult for them to operate.

Barriers to Operations

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) has extensive authority to monitor and restrict the activities of associations in Yemen. Notably, Law No. 1 of 2001:

• Requires a MOSAL representative to supervise association’s internal elections;
• Fails to guarantee associations the right to develop their own internal regulations;
• Requires all associations to submit annual reports to MOSAL in order to renew their licenses;
• Grants MOSAL the authority to audit an association’s funding sources and expenditures;
• Empowers MOSAL to question associations about their activities and financial matters.

In early 2019, the Sana’a government’s MOSAL began reviewing CSOs’ work to determine if they could retain their operating licenses. To make its determination, MOSAL assessed CSOs’ work plans and evaluation reports. Civil society advocates viewed these measures as a way for Houthis to reduce the number of CSOs that operate in Sana’a and other areas under their control.

The government has also undertaken other actions—including freezing the bank accounts of certain CSOs, ceasing to issue licenses, and changing the boards of some CSOs to include government-affiliated individuals—to restrict civic space.

In 2019, MOSAL dissolved around 100 CSOs for having “suspicious objectives” and announced that only 400 out of 13,000 registered CSOs were active. It also stated that it would be adopting a new mechanism to enable it to decide which CSOs work for the interest of the country.

Starting in 2020, CSOs with headquarters in Sana’a or founders from northern areas struggled to obtain licenses from MOSAL’s office in Aden. As a result, many CSOs were forced to open new headquarters in Aden or operate through other organizations.

In view of the increasingly complicated practices by the authorities toward CSOs—which include improper use of legal procedures, security pressure on organizations, and the arbitrary use of CSOs’ data—some CSOs have halted their activities in some locations. For instance, the International Organization for Migration closed its office in Hodeida Governorate.

The Supreme Council for Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation (SCMCHA) in Sana’a has issued a number of resolutions that limit CSOs’ activities and have caused many organizations to halt their projects or shut down their offices. These include:

• Resolution No. 2060 (2020), which requires CSOs’ projects and draft sub-agreements to be reviewed by the General Secretariat of SCMCHA.
• Resolution No. 56 (2021), which prohibits CSOs from conducting activities via their websites or holding virtual meetings, workshops, or symposiums without coordinating with SCMCHA. It also requires CSOs to receive permission from SCMCHA to use their staff to implement their work or conduct studies. Failure to comply may result in the organization being shut down or expelled from the country.
• Resolution No. 805 (2021), which limits CSOs’ operations to specific geographic areas, with nationwide licenses available exclusively from MOSAL’s headquarters. Without a nationwide license, an organization that operates in more than one governorate risks suspension.

In addition, in late 2021, MOSAL’s Aden office issued a number of resolutions and circulars that impose additional legal and technical control over the activities of CSOs in Aden:

• A circular issued in October 2021 requires licenses to be issued exclusively from MOSAL’s Aden headquarters, effectively forcing CSOs to establish locations and bank accounts in Aden.
• Circular No. 2 (2021) regulates the membership of cooperative associations based on the National Associations and Federations Law No. (01) of 2001 and its Executive Statutes No 129 of 2004. According to Article 21-4 of the Law, a member of an association should not be a member of another association conducting similar activities.
• Circular No. 1 (2021) warns national associations and foundations operating in Aden not to implement any activities without their prior approval and confirmed that it would take legal action against violators according of 2004 and its Executive Statutes.

Another resolution included procedures to renew annual licenses pursuant to the National Associations and Federations Law No. (01) of 2001 and its Executive Statutes No 129 of 2004. To renew its annual license, a CSO must provide:

• an administrative report for the previous year;
• a financial report approved by a chartered accountant in Aden that covers the organization’s activities, bank accounts, and sources of funding;
• a lease for the organization’s headquarters in Aden; and
• a detailed annual activity and project plan for the upcoming year with funding sources.

MOSAL further confirmed that national and cooperative associations must hold their electoral meeting in coordination with MOSAL’s office in Aden following the expiration of the Board of Directors’ three-year term.

Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism

The 2010 Law on Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism allows a committee in the Central Bank to:

• Examine and inspect bank accounts without prior notice.
• Halt any organization’s activities for 24 hours, with a possible extension up to a month, without following any legal procedures.

Extralegal Harassment and Security Pressures

Beyond legal restrictions, CSOs face harassment by government authorities and security forces, including arbitrary detentions, misinformation campaigns, and corrupt practices. These pressures have significantly constrained civic space since the war began, forcing some CSOs to suspend operations.

In May 2024, Houthi forces raided multiple CSO offices and detained staff members, further chilling the operating environment for local organizations.

Barriers to International Contact

Article 23 of Law No. 1 of 2001 requires associations and foundations to obtain prior approval from MOSAL before conducting activities “on the request or assignment of a foreign entity.” The implementing regulations for the law mandate CSOs to submit an application detailing the foreign entity’s name, address, nationality, purpose, geographic scope, and the nature and goals of the proposed activities. While MOSAL is required to review and respond to the application within 30 days, the regulations do not further define which types of activities are encompassed by this requirement, nor do they provide CSOs the right to appeal if their application is denied.

Since the outbreak of war in late 2014, government authorities in Yemen imposed additional controls on CSO activities involving international organizations.

In the last quarter of 2016, a new regulation required CSOs to consult with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) before submitting funding proposals to international agencies and to obtain MoPIC’s approval before entering into agreements with international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). All new CSO projects with INGOs must align with MoPIC’s program plans. Certain activities such as surveys, also require advance approval. In mid-2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced further requirements obliging CSOs to submit detailed forms with extensive information about their planned activities.

In Houthi-controlled areas, project funding proposals from local CSOs are no longer sent to external entities via MoPIC. Instead, they were routed through SCMCHA until its dissolution, after which its responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

CSOs in Sana’a face growing scrutiny over their online presence and international communications. Organizations that use their websites to engage donors or the international community, or that conduct virtual workshops with external entities, risk being placed on the “List of Suspicious Organizations” serving foreign agendas. Organizations placed on this list risk having their staff targeted and facing significant restrictions on their activities.

In January 2021, the authorities in Sana’a issued a circular prohibiting CSOs from participating in activities with foreign entities without prior permission from SCMCHA.

Following the arbitrary detention of staff from international and local organizations and the storming of numerous CSO offices by Houthi forces in May 2024, local organizations in Sana’a have become increasingly wary of accepting support from international donors. Fear of being labeled as “spies” for foreign entities has further constrained their ability to operate and engage internationally.

Barriers to Expression

While Yemen’s legal framework does not impose explicit restrictions on speech or advocacy, in practice, freedom of expression is severely curtailed. Human rights defenders are often accused of alignment with opposition political parties and face significant obstacles when engaging with government institutions.

Since seizing power in 2014, the Houthis have systematically targeted social media users and others who voice criticism of their rule. Similarly, the Southern Transitional Council, which controls Aden and parts of southern Yemen and advocates for secession, has detained journalists and other critics in its areas of control.

Notable incidents of pressure and harassment against journalists include:

• In May 2023, freelance international journalists Quentin Müller and Sylvain Mercadier were arrested without a warrant. Their apartment was searched and their equipment and passports seized. After being taken to a police station for questioning, they were placed under house arrest for a week and subsequently forced to leave the country. Müller had reported on the political situation on the island of Socotra for several publications. Mercadier seems to have been arrested arbitrarily due to his association with Müller.
• In June 2023, authorities in Ma’rib issued arrest warrants for the editors of three news outlets and the bureau chiefs of two broadcast networks for their reporting on corruption.
• In August 2023, security forces in Taiz detained Jameel al-Samat for his social media posts criticizing the performance of government security forces. He had been arrested only one month earlier after military leadership in Taiz filed complaints against him.
• In August 2024, the Supreme Judicial Council in Aden established a specialized prosecution for press and electronic publishing. This move followed social media campaigns criticizing a prominent judge and member of the Council.

The Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate has highlighted that female journalists face unique challenges, including fewer professional opportunities and heightened self-censorship due to political, cultural, and social pressures.

The Houthis have created their own “justice system” that allows them to oversee judges and appoint loyalists to judicial positions. CSOs consider these judicial amendments unconstitutional, viewing them as a means to consolidate Houthi control over the judiciary. The system has increasingly been used as a tool to suppress independent voices, settle political scores, and eliminate political opponents.

Barriers to Resources

Under Law No. 1 of 2001, CSOs may receive funds from foreign persons or entities “with the knowledge of the Ministry” (Article 23(1)). The law’s implementing regulations require CSOs to provide the Ministry with detailed information on the source and purpose of foreign funds, but they do not specify the procedures for notification. More generally, associations and foundations are permitted to receive resources from governmental or non-governmental actors, provided such funding “does not conflict with the effective applicable law.” (Article 39(2))

In April 2010, the House of Representatives adopted the Law on Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism, which introduced additional constraints on organizations funded by international parties. Despite minor amendments during its passage, the law contains provisions that can negatively impact CSOs. For example, it authorizes a committee within the Central Bank to examine and inspect bank accounts without prior notice, and to suspend any company or organization operating in Yemen for 24 hours—with the possibility of extending the suspension up to one month—without following standard legal procedures.

The procedures for CSOs based in Sana’a to access external funding have changed. The Supreme Council for Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation (SCMCHA) replaced the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation as the entity responsible for coordination related to foreign funding of CSOs. This occurred with the establishment by the Houthis of the SCMCHA, based on Circular No. 201 of 2019 issued by the President of the Supreme Political Council affiliated with the Houthis. Although the Houthis later abolished this body and transferred its responsibilities to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs, they continued to impose restrictions on the work of CSOs.

In addition, the Sana’a authorities have imposed limits on the scope of CSO activities, prohibiting projects related to peace, advocacy, and gender. These restrictions have drastically reduced funding opportunities for organizations working in these areas, leading to a shortage of resources and forcing some CSOs to scale back or halt their programs.

Barriers to Assembly

Legal Restrictions. Public assemblies in Yemen are regulated by Law No. 29 of 2003 on the Organization of Marches and Assemblies. Article 3 of the Law states that “every citizen in Yemen, every political party, every public organization, every trade union and syndicate has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly including peaceful demonstrations and marches in compliance with the constitution, the provisions of this law and the applicable laws.”

While this provision recognizes the right to peaceful assembly, it improperly limits the right by excluding non-citizens.

Vague Provisions. Vague provisions in Law No. 29 give authorities excessive discretion to ban or interfere with public assemblies. For instance, Article 16 prohibits demonstrations or marches “that target the Republican system, homeland security, or the unity of [Yemen’s] territories.” The vagueness and breadth of these provisions allow authorities to bar virtually any demonstration or march that it does not support. Article 5 permits authorities to reschedule an assembly’s timing or change its route within 24 hours of its start, citing “security reasons” or “necessity.” These terms are undefined and can be interpreted expansively to justify undue interference, even at the last moment.

Advance Notification. Under Article 4, organizers must provide the Ministry of Interior with 72 hours’ notice before holding any demonstration or march. This period exceeds the 48-hour limit recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.

Although Article 4 allows organizers to appeal rescheduling decisions to a court, the process is constrained. Appeals must be made within 24 hours, and courts must decide within 72 hours. The court’s decision is considered final.

Law No. 29 does not explicitly recognize spontaneous assemblies. Combined with the advance notification requirement, this omission suggests that such gatherings may be treated as prohibited. However, Article 19 states that “The provisions of this law do not apply to protests and sit-ins that do not turn into a demonstration or a march.” Thus, this provision could potentially allow for certain spontaneous gatherings on a smaller scale.

Enforcement. In practice, Yemeni authorities have repeatedly used excessive force to suppress peaceful protests. In 2021, Yemeni security forces and the Southern Transitional Council used live ammunition to disperse peaceful demonstrations in Aden and Hadhramout protesting the deteriorating security conditions. The crackdown left two people dead and several wounded. Authorities declared a state of emergency, disregarding constitutional protections for peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. In September 2024, Houthi forces abducted a journalist shortly after he criticized their rule. This incident occurred amid a wider Houthi campaign of intimidation against activists and public figures who called for celebrations marking the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution.

While we aim to maintain information that is as current as possible, we realize that situations can rapidly change.  If you are aware of any additional information or inaccuracies on this page, please keep us informed; write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

Historical Notes

After the 2011 Revolution, Yemen launched a national dialogue process to discuss various political and social issues facing the country and agree on a binding document to form the basis of a new constitution for the nation. Following the completion of the National Dialogue Conference in January 2014, interim President Hadi announced the formation of a committee to draft a new constitution. The drafting committee, comprising 17 members, completed its first draft in January 2015. The initial drafting process included substantial opportunities for CSOs to contribute their feedback, and resulting draft articles provided a strong basis for the protection of freedom of association, among other rights. However, due to the aggravated political crisis in Yemen, the legal procedures for adopting the new draft constitution were not finalized.

General News

Yemen’s Houthis abduct at least 4 journalists (June 2025)
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Houthi rebels’ abduction of at least four Yemeni journalists and media workers in the western port city of Hodeidah, and the sentencing of journalist Mohamed Al-Miyahi to 1½ years in jail for criticizing the group’s leader.

Aden authorities impose protest ban (May 2025)
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and the Yemen Coalition for Human Rights (YCHR) condemn the recent imposition of a sweeping ban on public protests, enacted May 17 by authorities in Aden. This unlawful measure represents a clear violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in both the Yemeni constitution and international legal standards.

Yemen’s Houthis seize UN rights office in Sanaa (August 2024)
Yemen’s Houthi rebels stormed the headquarters of the United Nations’ Human Rights Office in the capital, Sanaa, seizing documents, furniture and vehicles, a senior U.N. official said. The seizure was the latest move in a crackdown by the Houthis on people working with the U.N., aid agencies and foreign embassies. The crackdown comes as the Iranian-backed rebels have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Huthi authorities must immediately release arbitrarily detained staff from UN and civil society organizations (July 2024)
Huthi de facto authorities must immediately release 13 UN staff and at least 14 staff from Yemeni and international civil society organizations who continue to be arbitrarily detained one month later as part of an ongoing crackdown against the human rights and humanitarian community, Amnesty International said. Early last month, Huthi security forces conducted a series of raids in Sana’a, Hodiedah and Hajjah rounding up at least 27 staff, four women and 23 men, from UN agencies and at least seven local and international organizations from their homes or offices. Huthi authorities have not disclosed the whereabouts of the detained staff to their families and they are being held incommunicado and denied their right to access legal counsel or contact their families.

Yemen’s Huthi rebels say they arrested aid workers over ‘US-Israeli spy network’ (June 2024)
Yemen’s Huthi rebels said they had arrested a “spy network” operating under the cover of humanitarian organizations, after aid workers including 11 UN staff were held last week. The Iran-backed group claimed the network was linked to the CIA and had been carrying out “espionage” activities in Yemen for years, initially through the United States embassy before it suspended operations in Sanaa in 2015. The Huthis, who are engaged in a long-running civil war that has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, did not specify how many people were arrested.

Violations and harassment facing female journalists in Yemen (March 2023)
According to Euro-Med Monitor, one out of every ten journalists arrested in Yemen over the last two years was a woman. The number of journalists arbitrarily detained in Yemen increased by 20% in 2021, reaching 488 journalists, including 60 female journalists, making it the largest number of female detainees in Yemen’s history. Despite a lower number of female journalists arrested as compared to male journalists, the number of registered female journalists in Yemen is much lower than that of male journalists. Female journalists account for approximately 170 of the 1,500 journalists registered and affiliated with the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate, making up only 11% of the total number of Syndicate-affiliated journalists. Furthermore, female journalists face several constraints, including limited opportunities and routine self-censorship as a result of cultural and social pressures.

Civil society organizations reject the Prime Minister’s decision No. 3 of 2023 and demand its immediate annulment (January 2023) (Arabic)
Civil society organizations formed a position that is the first of its kind to record their categorical rejection of the Prime Minister’s Resolution No. 3 of 2023, which they believe will eliminate any glimmer of hope for the stability of the situation in the country.

Limiting the accounts of civil society organizations in 4 banks subject to the Central Bank (January 2023) (Arabic)
The Director General of the Office of Social Affairs and Labor in Aden issued an order to stop opening any accounts for civil society organizations in banks that are not subject to the supervision of the Central Bank of Aden.

Minister Zaouri directs to remove the black and gray list of associations and organizations operating in the country (August 2022) (Arabic)
Hi Excellency Dr. Muhammad Saeed Al-Zaouri, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, stressed the need to re-evaluate the work and programs of civil society organizations and rectify their activities.

Social Affairs and Labor “takes a number of” decisions to activate legal oversight (November 2021) (Arabic)
The acting Director-General of the Office of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in the capital issued a number of decisions and circulars to activate the legal and technical control over the work activities of civil society organizations.

A Letter from Civil Society Organizations to the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen (September 2021)
CSOs release a statement to the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen regarding enhancement of humanitarian action in Yemen.

Yemen: Government and Transitional Council unite in suppressing protesters (September 2021)
Yemeni security forces and the Southern Transitional Council forces have killed two and injured a number of demonstrators during popular demonstrations in cities in southern Yemen, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said in a statement expressing deep concern. The Yemeni government security forces fired live bullets at peaceful demonstrators protesting against the deteriorating living conditions in the city of Mukalla in the Hadramout Governorate, killing young man Salem Bugshan, 21, with a direct bullet in the head. Several others were wounded.

Yemeni Civil Society and the Impact of COVID-19: A Survey of Perceptions and Responses to the Pandemic (2020)
The COVID-19 outbreak is further diverting critically needed human and material resources away from already weak and underfunded essential services, including assistance to people with disabilities, the elderly, refugees and migrants, women and girls, and other vulnerable groups.

UN official criticizes restrictions on humanitarian operations in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen (November 2019)
Ursula Mueller, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that despite recent limited improvements, the Houthi authorities continue to enforce a growing number of restrictive regulations on humanitarian action.

International Relief and Humanitarian Organizations in Yemen (April 2019)
International humanitarian and aid organizations are using the crisis in Yemen to implement humanitarian projects the funds of which are not fully used to aid suffering Yemenis.

Prolonged detention and torture of 10 journalists illustrates risks (April 2019)
The arbitrary detention of 10 journalists for nearly four years by the Huthi de facto authorities is a grim indicator of the dire state of media freedom in Yemen, said Amnesty International, demanding their immediate release ahead of World Press Freedom Day.

Ministry of Social Affairs stopped the work of 100 CSOs (February 2019)
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Sana’a announced the suspension of the activities of about 100 civil society organizations after it was revealed that they received support and funding from hostile countries.

News Archive

Civilians at mercy of sniping, shelling and airstrikes (February 2018)

Yemen 2017/2018 Report (February 2018)

Text of the Resolution of the 36th Session in Geneva on Human Rights Violations in Yemen (September 2017)

Yemen: An “entirely man-made catastrophe” – UN human rights report urges international investigation(September 2017)

Yemen’s Houthi and Saleh coalition stops UNICEF activities until further notice (February 2017)

Human Rights Report from the Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights (March 2016)

Arbitrarily Held by the Houthi (January 2016)

Huthi Armed Group Must End Crackdown On Human Rights Defenders and NGOs (December 2015)

Civil Society Key Theme at National Dialogue Conference (December 2014)

Journalists attacked, threatened amid Yemen protests (May 2013)

Human Rights Violations in the South of Yemen (December 2012)

Youth initiatives in volunteerism (November 2012)

A National Independent Human Rights Commission (October 2012)

Workshop to discuss the Law on Associations (October 2012)

CSOs agree to partake in national dialogue in Yemen (August 2012)

IIRO calls for quick relief aid to save millions of Yemenis (July 2012)

Formation of a Common Entity (May 2012)

Law on Access to Information is passed (April 2012)

Servants protest for being marginalized (April 2012)

Minister discusses draft Transitional Justice Law and Human Rights Commission with civil society (March 2012)

No immunity for Yemen’s Saleh abroad: Human Rights Watch (February 2012)

Coping with unrest – aid workers turn to the community (January 2012)

UN rights council slams Yemen violations (September 2011)

U.N. accuses Yemen of using deadly force in protests (September 2011)

Targeted repression continues in Bahrain and Yemen (May 2011)

Yemen’s neighbors step up role in pushing for Saleh’s exit (April 2011)

UN human rights office voices concern at recent events in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria (March 2011)

In Yemen, female activist strives for an Egypt-like revolution (February 2011)