Sana'a – July 17, 2006

The Women National Committee organized a workshop to discuss the draft for the sixth national report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

In the opening ceremony, Dr.Khadeja Al-Haisami , the minister of Human Rights, delivered a speech where she remarked that the issue of women's rights not is not of concern only to women but is an issue of concern to all of society. She emphasized the importance of cooperation between the government and NGOs in order to raise awareness about women related issues.

Hans Obdeijn, the UNFPA representative in Yemen , presented a speech noted that the sixth draft of the national report on the implementation of CEDAW. The convention was signed by the Yemeni government in 1984. Obdeijn said that CEDAW should be effectively translated into laws, legislation, policies, and programs and that the UN is a willing partner for Yemen in that process.

“I am here today on behalf of the UN system that wishes to be an essential partner to the government in providing every possible support to [Yemen] in reaching [the] objectives of the convention,” he said.

Yemen has made remarkable achievement in its steady progress towards implementing the CEDAW, despite the lack of capacity and human resources. Such efforts demonstrate that Yemen has the will to make a “distinguished enhancement” in women's status.

Obdeijn continued, “we are still at the beginning of the road and concrete action must be taken [to ensure a] better future for women in Yemen .” The draft report's indicators showed the gender gap being gradually closed in terms of education, health, political participation, and legally. “These tangible achievements oblige the UN to be more supportive in order to make the implementation reach [an] even higher level,” he said.

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