On May 26, 2024, forces linked to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized an independent women's shelter in Aden, Yemen. Human Rights Watch reported that the STC, along with the Southern Women’s Union, threatened the Yemen Women’s Union staff and the women sheltering there. This action is part of a broader pattern of STC efforts to replace independent institutions with those it supports.
The incident involved the STC-affiliated Southern Women’s Union, which had been harassing the Yemen Women’s Union since early May. The Yemen Women’s Union, one of the oldest civil society organizations in Yemen, provides crucial support for survivors of gender-based violence. The attackers, escorted by a military vehicle belonging to the STC's Storm Brigade, disabled security cameras, broke into the office, and took control. The shelter staff were initially barred from entering and caring for the residents, placing women and children at significant risk.
In response, Human Rights Watch and other organizations have called on the STC to cease its violations of women’s rights and return control of the shelter to the Yemen Women’s Union. International pressure is mounting, with demands for the STC to respect the rule of law and stop its broader attacks on civil society. Despite regaining partial access to the building on June 23, the Yemen Women’s Union continues to face significant challenges from the STC and the Southern Women’s Union, which still occupy parts of the premises.
To read more, please visit:
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/06/yemen-stc-de-facto-authorities-must-ensure-safety-of-womens-shelter-following-takeover-of-yemeni-women-union-centre/
- https://yemeniarchive.org/en/investigations/the-storming-of-the-yemeni-womens-union-headquarters-in-aden
