STC’s Women’s Leadership Meet with Director of Yemen and Jordan Office of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
Female members of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC); lawyer Niran Souqi, deputy chairperson of the National Assembly, Dr. Suhair Ali Ahmed, and Dr. Mona Basharaheel met on Thursday morning at the headquarters of the STC with Dr. Magdalena Kirchner, director of the Yemen and Jordan office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).

At the meeting, which was attended by Dr. Najwa Fadhl, advisor to the President of the STC for Women’s Affairs and head of the Supreme Coordinating Committee for Civil Society Organizations, the members of the STC’s Presidium warmly welcomed Dr. Magdalena, reviewing the current developments in the South and the situation of southern women by focusing on women’s participation both in pre- and post-1990 and highlighting southern women’s full engagement in all local, regional, and international fora before 1990.

They reviewed the subjugation practiced against the women of the South after the 1994 war in terms of violations, sidelining, marginalization, and exclusion by the North regime, which deprived the women of exercising their rights and freedom of expression.

Furthermore, the members of the Presidium indicated that all the de-righted and de-voiced practices and subjugation that occurred in the South were the reason behind launching the STC, to lift out of the dire situation, rebuild the institutions of the State of the South, and forcefully regain the rights of southern women, involving them in leadership positions and allowing them to participate with men in the political, economic, and all other fields, affirming that their presence now has become key and powerful in all the departments of the STC.

For her part, Dr. Magdalena expressed her happiness with this meeting, thanking the members of the STC’s Presidium for the good reception and the sincerity in discussing various topics, affirming that they, as a foundation, have a working team with the aim of supporting the democratic transition process in Yemen by promoting the development process on the level of media freedom, societal justice, and dialogue between civil society organizations and the government, as well as expanding women’s involvement in public life, boosting their empowerment in planning and decision-making at the economic, social, and political levels, and strengthening regional and international cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Ms. Aisha Talib, head of the Woman and Child Committee in the National Assembly, and, from the Friedrich Foundation side, Mr. Mahmoud Kayah, Acting Non-Resident Representative, Senior Program Manager, and Mayada Jamal Al-Baydani, Project Manager.