Amman, 31 March 2020 - The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, met with the Yemeni women’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) today in a video conference over the internet.

TAG is a network of Yemeni women formed in 2018 by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) from diverse backgrounds, including economics, human rights, governance, as well as women with political party affiliation.

During the meeting, Mr. Griffiths consulted with the TAG members on how to resume the political process as soon as possible to end the war. The TAG was also briefed on his engagement with the parties to work out the specifics of how to translate their stated commitments to end hostilities into a tangible reality.

The TAG members and Mr. Griffiths discussed as well a number of economic and humanitarian measures that would alleviate the suffering of Yemeni people, build confidence between the parties, and enhance Yemen’s capacity to respond to the threat of a COVID-19 outbreak, including the release of all conflict-related prisoners and detainees.

“The high risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in Yemen alongside continued military escalation poses potentially catastrophic consequences for the men, women and children of Yemen,” Mr. Griffiths said, “We must move urgently towards an end of the war, not only because it is imperative for an adequate response to the pandemic, but because this is what Yemenis demanded clearly and publicly.”

Mr. Griffiths thanked the TAG members and all Yemeni women’s groups and networks for their support to the peace process and their vital advocacy to end the war.

“The voices and concerns of all Yemenis are critical to raise awareness, encourage cross-party cooperation, exert pressure, provide context-sensitive solutions, and mobilize all efforts to respond to the current crisis in Yemen,” Mr. Griffiths said.

You can read more on the work that the Office of the Special Envoy does on women, peace, and security here.