Aden artists tackle violence against women at groundbreaking exhibition

The “I Have Hope” initiative held an exhibition in Aden of drawings and paintings depicting gender-based violence to shed light on an increasing number of cases of abuse of and killing of women in Yemen. The exhibition, themed “A woman dies, we all die,” aims to convey a message to stop violence against women in the world and in Yemen. Gender-based violence against Yemeni women increased in Aden during the last few years. A report issued by To Be Foundation for Rights and Freedoms in January 2022 shows that the percentage of women subjected to domestic violence and beatings in Aden is nearly 90 percent. In addition, the rate of women raped during and before the war reached almost 50%. At the same time, the percentage of divorce and alimony cases reached 80%, including pending cases. The report stated that the percentage of women subjected to fraud and abuse by their husbands and their families is 60%. In contrast, the rate of harassment, violation, and discrimination between women and men in work is 70%. In addition, the percentage of women whose parents deprive them of education and do not give them the freedom to make choices and decide for themselves is 60%.