Yemen
MEPI in Yemen
MEPI supports the National Democratic Institute`s work in Yemen to strengthen political parties and facilitate dialogue processes in the midst of the country`s political transition. Training workshops provide information to political parties on political and electoral process issues and facilitate discussions to aid parties in better defining their positions on process options and reforms. The initiative also encourages constructive and non-violent negotiations among participants. To complement this larger project, MEPI provides local grants directly to Yemeni civil society organizations, aimed at ensuring citizens` voices are heard as the country undergoes major political change. Local Grants projects enhance the media`s capacity in raising the public`s awareness of recent reforms, strengthen Yemeni women`s leadership skills in politics, promote effective political engagement among youth, and increase civic participation at the community level.
Featured Highlights
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New Cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows
The seventh cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows arrived in the U.S. on March 18, kicking off the six-week long academic portion of their fellowship. The twenty-two Fellows are based at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs where they will complete coursework in democracy studies, conflict resolution, political mobilization, and communication.
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Newly Established MENA CSOs Receive Mentorship and Support
The MEPI-funded Support for Training, Advocacy, and Networking in Developing Democracies initiative, implemented by Partners for Democratic Change, is actively working to enhance the organizational development of nascent civil society organizations in the Gulf region. It is building stronger, more sustainable institutions to advance citizen interests and address important economic and social issues.
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Civic Education Leaders Visit Washington
The sixth cohort of the MEPI-funded Civic Education Leadership Fellows (CELF) visited the U.S. Department of State in Washington. The 13 Fellows – all university professors from the Middle East and North Africa – are completing three-month residencies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University.
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Yemeni Youth and Women Work Together to Advance Their Political Participation
Through MEPI support, the Media Women Forum (MFW) implemented a project to help increase levels of political participation among Yemeni youth and women. MFW worked with members of differing political parties and independent youth leadership groups to select 32 individuals from across the country.
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MENA Students Enter Young Entrepreneurs Competition
In 2012, over 5400 high school and university students from the Middle East and North Africa competed for spots on the MEPI-supported sixth annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition. Seventy five students secured finalist spots for the competition which took place in November 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
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Women’s Rights Advocacy Succeeds in the Region
Vital Voices’ MEPI-funded “Policy-Advocates for Women’s Issues in the Middle East and North Africa” project mentored teams of women activists and provided them training in advocacy, social media outreach, and project management over the past two years. Each country team selected a public policy issue identified as a priority and implemented nationwide campaigns to lobby for needed reforms.
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Yemeni Youth Perform in National Theater Competition
More than 40 students from seven universities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE gathered to refine their skills in practical applications of commercial laws with a focus on arguing sample cases before arbitrators. The training was held at the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) in Abu Dhabi from February 10-14, 2013.
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MEPI Facilitates Involvement of Yemeni Citizens in Constitution Dialogue
The Local Engagement for Advocacy and Dialogue is a MEPI-funded collaborative project implemented by Partners for Democratic Change that supports the efforts of Yemeni civil society organizations during the transitional period. The project works particularly with women and youth-led organizations, to assist them in involving citizens in constitutional dialogues and integrating citizens’ demands into the constitutional process.
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Yemen’s New Access to Information Law
During 32 years of Saleh’s rule in Yemen, all media was state run and public information was not available to common citizens. Through a MEPI-funded project in 2009, International Research & Exchanges Board worked with local and international partners to draft a new access to information law that adheres to international best practices and sets the standard for transparency and openness.
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Vital Voices Project Aims to Improve the Lives of Women Across the Region
On October 25, 2012 Vital Voices hosted a panel discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. at which participants shared successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the MEPI-funded Policy Advocates for Women Issues in the Middle East and North Africa project.
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MEPI Launches 214 New Projects in 2012
As of September 30, 2012 (the end of Fiscal Year 2012), MEPI awarded an unprecedented number of grants to international and indigenous organizations working throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. These grants reflect a large increase in civil society activities in MENA, and strong demand for MEPI support, especially in countries that recently experienced democratic transitions.
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MEPI Partner Uses New Media to Inform Citizenry
Through its Social Media|Social Action (SM|SA) project, MEPI partner IREX recently issued a solicitation to provide small grants to youth-serving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in leveraging media tools and approaches to increase the outcomes and impact of their organizations’ activities.
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Students Leaders Learn About Civil Society and Leadership
A total of 118 undergraduate students from across the Middle East and North Africa participated in the 2012 MEPI Student Leaders Program in Washington, D.C. The program brings civically engaged students with outstanding academic achievements from universities throughout the region to the U.S. to study civil society, democratic participation, and leadership.
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International Youth Activism Summit Promotes Cross-Border Collaboration
In June 2012, MEPI partner Soliya convened an international summit during which thirty-four Fellows ages 20 to 30, from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East met to work together towards the betterment of their communities.
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IFES and Arab Parliamentarians Work on Political Finance in MENA
Recent electoral events in the MENA region have led to calls for greater transparency and accountability. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption are working on the MEPI-funded “Enhancing Transparency in Political Finance in the Arab Region” project to increase stakeholders’ awareness on issues relating to political finance.
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Young Activists Produce Films to Capture Change
After extensive training in media production and community engagement provided by U.S.-based NGO Soliya and MEPI, 110 young civil society leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa are harnessing the power of new media technologies to promote informed and constructive discourse on reform topics.
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Local Youth Councils Bring Yemeni Activists Together
The MEPI-funded Equal Access International RIGHTS Initiative in Yemen educates youth about their legal rights, provides a forum for youth to express their views, and empowers them with the tools, knowledge and encouragement to become engaged citizens. The RIGHTS initiative helped form six new Local Youth Councils in Sana'a, Lahj, Hadramout, Hodeidah, Aden and Taiz.
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Sec. Clinton Affirms Commitment to Supporting Arab Reformers
MEPI’s 2012 Leaders for Democracy Fellows (LDF) met with Secretary Clinton on May 29th, following their participation in the Civil Society Strategic Dialogue town hall meeting earlier in the month. The Secretary praised the fellows’ reform-oriented activism and work in advancing civil society during an unprecedented time in the Arab world.
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MEPI Commemorates International Women’s Day 2012
On International Women’s Day 2012, MEPI recognizes this critical moment for women’s rights in the MENA region. The Arab Spring has brought profound change to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), change that includes both promise and uncertainty.
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MEPI Congratulates MEPI Alumna and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkul Karman
Prominent Yemeni journalist and activist Tawakkul Karman was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize along with two other women "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work."
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Yemeni Youth Raise Democratic Awareness through School Journalism
After the “School Journalism and Democratic Awareness” program was successfully launched by the Taiz-based Yemeni NGO Center for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, 11 boys and girls schools published 11 newspapers throughout January and February.
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2011 Leaders for Democracy Fellows Meet with Secretary Clinton
MEPI’s 2011 Leaders for Democracy Fellows met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on June 3. The Secretary assured the Fellows of U.S. Government support for democracy and human rights across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and praised them for their dedication and hard work.