Yemen: Freedom of Expression in Peril

The Report examines the extent to which the right to freedom of expression is enjoyed by individuals and different sectors of society – including the media, political parties, non-governmental organizations and women – in Yemen.

Drawing on a series of interviews with key stakeholders in Sana’a in August 2007, as well as background research, the Report calls for the cancellation of judicial procedures initiated against journalists before the Special Criminal Court on Terrorism, for the release of media professionals imprisoned for their writing, and for full investigations to be carried out into threats and attacks against journalists, as well as for ongoing investigations to be concluded. The Report also condemns slur campaigns targeting women journalists and activists, and calls for the implementation of CEDAW’s recommendations, especially in favour of the adoption of anti-discriminatory legislation, to help empower women to exercise their right of freedom of expression.

ARTICLE 19 also calls for reinforcing the judiciary’s independence and for the implementation of the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee, in particular to the effect that the proposed new Press and Publications Law fully complies with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Yemen ratified in February 1987.

The Report is available in Arabic at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/yemen-foe-report-arabic.pdf and in English at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/yemen-foe-report.pdf 
 

NOTES TO EDITORS

• For more information, please contact Sarah Richani, ARTICLE 19 Programme Officer, sarah@article19.org, +96170952797.
• The fact-finding mission and the drafting of the Report, carried out by Isabelle Scherer, consultant, and Sarah Richani, ARTICLE 19 Programme Officer, were made possible with the financial backing of the National Endowment for Democracy (N.E.D). The report complements a wider program on freedom of expression in Yemen carried out by ARTICLE 19 in 2007, Creating an Environment for Free Media in Yemen.

ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.