country investigator chap 9-10

Yemen

I chose Yemen because according to the World Economic Forum rating of the status of women of 130 countries Yemen was in last place. I wanted to explore what was important to a country that doesn't value women. The following is what I discovered.

Yemen is located in the Middle East in the southwestern and southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the "poorest and least developed countries in the Arab World, with a formal 35% employment rate, dwindling natural resources, a young population and increasing population growth." (wikipedia). It is considered a developing country with 45.2% of its population below the poverty line.

It is a country rampant with corruption which inhibits the development of the country. Their constitution defines the republic as an independent and sovereign Arab and Islamic country. Islamic law is the basis of all laws. Article 6 of their constitution states that it confirms its adherence to the UN Charter and International Declaration of Human Rights yet women are still struggling with the "various constraints and secondary status. Yemen's Personal Status Law in particular, which covers matters of marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance, gives women fewer rights than men, excludes women from decision making, and deprives them of access to, and control over, resources and assets."

Human rights in Yemen is rather poor. The "security forces" have been responsible for torture, inhumane treatment and even executions without due process.

According to Yemeni law a girl can wed at any age, but it forbids sex with them until they are considered "suitable for sexual intercourse". The onset of puberty, which is the age of 9 by some, was set as a requirement for consummation of marriage. Roughly half of Yemeni girls are married before 18, some as young as 8.

Not only do they limit the rights of women they also limit freedom of press. Yemen ranked 136th of 167 nations in terms of press freedom. The government is in control of all radio and television. They will ban journalists for publishing "incorrect" information.

Yemen is a largely tribal society with virtually all citizens being muslim and belonging to either the Zaydi order of Shi'a Islam (50%) or to the Shafa'i order of Sunni Islam (50%). Zaydi's are generally found in the north and northwestern part of the country, whereas the Shafa'i is in the south and southeastern part of the country.

Some things they do value is music. Some Yemenite Jews have become quite popular pan-Arab. Their cuisine is very distinct from the known Middle Eastern cuisine due to Ottoman Turkish influences. Football is very popular in Yemen. The countries citizens also enjoy and have access to mountain and water sports.

Progress has been and is being made to improve the status of women in Yemen, but as the authors of Half the sky stated laws help make changes but cultures need to change and that will take time.