Gender Equality and Womens Rights in Yemen

by Ulla Maaria

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Decisions about a women's health are made by her family or by her husband. Reproductive healthcare and contraception is mainly available in urban areas, however 70 percent of Yemen’s population still resides in the rural areas. Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains an issue in Yemen. [Learn more](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Yemen)
Yemeni women do participate in parliamentary elections both as voters as well as candidates. Still, there is only 1 women in the 301-member parliament. [Learn more](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Yemen)
Only 35% of the female population in Yemen can read. Instead of going to secondary school, 48% percent of girls are married by the time they are 18. [Learn more](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Yemen)
Women are not allowed to marry without the permission of their male guardians. They do not have the right to divorce without a process of litigation. Litigation is difficult, as women are prohibited from testifying in court in cases of adultery, slander, theft or sodomy. [Learn more](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Yemen)
Interactive image created by ThingLink. Sources: Wikipedia, Human Rights Watch, Yemen Times, Al Jazeera Read more about the project (add link)
Yemen is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. The population is 24 million with 46% being under 15 years old. In 1950, the population was 4.3 million.
Ramziya al-Iryani was a Yemeni feminist, diplomat, and author. She was the first diplomat to serve in the Yemeni Diplomatic Corps and acted as the head of the Yemeni Women's Union. Her novel Her novel Ḍaḥīyat al-Jashaʿ is considered to be the first novel by a Yememi woman. [Read More](http://afrahnasser.blogspot.com/2012/08/one-year-after-women-took-to-streets-of.html)
www.thinglink.com Womens Rights in Ireland