Male custody is the norm in the north Yemen bans women from working in humanitarian relief

 

Nine female humanitarians have disclosed that tightened male guardianship laws by Houthi authorities prevent female relief workers in north Yemen from carrying out their duties in the face of one of the greatest humanitarian crises in history.

Women are prevented from travelling to supervise humanitarian projects, gather data, and provide health and other services when they refuse to accompany a guardian. Gender-sensitive work is challenging when women do accept one, and assistance funds must shoulder additional expenditures.

One health project manager claimed that since the guidelines requiring Yemeni female aid workers to be accompanied by a close male relative — a "mahram" in Arabic — came out a year ago, she has not made any of her usual 15-20 visits a year to projects around the nation.

"I don't have many men in my family," she said, adding that some women have trouble finding suitable guardians since her family disapproves of her employment. "A woman may occasionally work without telling a member of her family." She makes do with video chats but is aware that other women have lost their jobs because they are unable to work efficiently.