In the modern landscape of Yemen, a country already grappling with the complexities of a protracted conflict and deep-seated socio-economic challenges, a new and insidious battlefield has emerged: the digital realm. For many Yemeni women, the internet—once a tool for connection and empowerment—has been weaponized into a space of harassment, defamation, and life-threatening extortion. As the global community observes the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” the spotlight is turning toward the courageous women and legal experts in Yemen who are fighting to reclaim their digital safety.
“The laws that do not protect women in reality are the same laws that fail to protect them online,” observes Afraa Al-Hariri, a prominent Yemeni lawyer, human rights defender, and the Country Director of the Peace Track Initiative. Her insight underscores a harrowing reality reflected in a recent brief by UN Women on digital violence across the Arab States. The data paints a grim picture of the regional digital climate: approximately 49 percent of women who use the internet reported that they do not feel safe from online harassment. Perhaps more alarming is the finding that for nearly half of those who experienced online abuse, the violence did not remain confined to the screen—it spilled over into their physical lives, manifesting as real-world threats and assaults.
In response to this escalating crisis, UN Women has forged a strategic partnership with Yemen’s Ministry of Justice. This collaboration aims to fortify the national justice system’s capacity to identify, prosecute, and combat technology-facilitated violence. By offering robust support for survivors and implementing rigorous training for officials, the initiative seeks to drag perpetrators out of the shadows of anonymity and into the light of legal accountability.
The architecture of digital abuse in Yemen is built upon the pillars of real-world gender inequality. Online spaces have become extensions of traditional patriarchal structures where sexual harassment, blackmail, and defamation are used to police women’s behavior and restrict their participation in public life. Al-Hariri, who recently led a UN Women cybercrime workshop, explains that the most prevalent and damaging form of this abuse involves the exploitation of personal imagery. “The most common and harmful form involves using women’s photos, sharing them, and threatening them with exposure,” she says. Perpetrators often utilize a mix of real, stolen, or digitally manipulated photos—frequently referred to as “deepfakes” or edited imagery—to shame, extort, and psychologically dismantle their victims.
What makes digital abuse particularly lethal in the Yemeni context is the pervasive social stigma that effectively muzzles survivors. In a society where a woman’s “honor” is often tied to the perceived reputation of her entire family, the threat of a leaked photo is not just a personal crisis; it is a social death sentence. “The social norms that treat women as ‘shameful’ in real life are the same norms used against them online,” Al-Hariri notes. This culture of silence acts as a protective shield for blackmailers. Survivors are often pressured by their own families to remain silent and avoid filing formal complaints to prevent public scandal. This lack of legal recourse leaves women vulnerable to predatory behavior, with many forced to pay exorbitant sums of money to their blackmailers—funds they often cannot afford—just to maintain a semblance of privacy.
The human cost of this digital warfare is devastatingly high. For Yemeni peacebuilders and activists, online platforms have become minefields. One young peacebuilder, in an interview with UN Women, described the chilling effect of digital smear campaigns: “On social media, people falsely accuse Yemeni peace activists of being spies for other countries. At one point, I chose to stop posting about my work online because of the backlash I was facing.” This digital silencing prevents women from participating in the very peace processes that are vital for the country’s future.
The impact extends far beyond the political sphere into the personal and economic lives of everyday women. In Aden, a beauty salon owner saw her livelihood vanish in a matter of weeks after a perpetrator created fake online profiles using manipulated photos of her. The resulting social ostracization led to the collapse of her business and the disappearance of her social support network, leaving her financially ruined and profoundly isolated. The psychological toll—ranging from chronic fear and depression to severe social withdrawal—is a heavy burden carried by thousands.
In the most extreme cases, the transition from digital threat to physical violence is fatal. One tragic instance involved a woman who sent her mobile phone to a technician for repairs. The technician stole personal photos from the device, including images of the woman without her veil. After he uploaded these private photos to social media, the woman’s husband discovered them and, in a misguided attempt to “restore honor,” killed his wife. While the husband faced charges for the murder, the technician remained beyond the reach of the law because there were no specific statutes at the time to prosecute the act of digital theft and distribution that triggered the tragedy. Similarly, in Al Hudaydah, a young girl was driven to end her own life following a relentless campaign of domestic violence and digital extortion. As Al-Hariri grimly notes, “It is rare to find a woman activist who has not been subjected to some form of abuse, insult, or defamation online.”
Recognizing the vacuum in the legal system, Al-Hariri and other women leaders began advocating for systemic change years ago. Their persistence led to a landmark collaboration with Yemen’s Office of the Attorney General, resulting in the establishment of a dedicated Cybercrime Unit. Supported by women’s coalitions and technical experts, this unit has been equipped to handle the complexities of digital evidence. Since its inception, the unit has recorded thousands of official complaints, though experts agree this is only the tip of the iceberg due to chronic underreporting.
To ensure the justice system is not just reactive but proactive, UN Women recently organized a specialized cybercrime workshop for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges. Facilitated by Al-Hariri, the training focused on the technical and legal nuances of digital blackmail. Participants learned how to use forensic tools to track digital footprints and how to apply existing laws to new forms of technology-facilitated crime.
Fatima Yaslam, the Director of the Working Women’s Development Department in Yemen’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, emphasized the importance of this training. “The course helped us recognize our strengths, as well as our weaknesses,” she said. “Now we are moving into the serious part: How to fight this phenomenon and raise awareness about it in society and within the justice system.” The goal is to develop clear executive regulations that link digital crimes to the broader penal code, ensuring that “digital blackmail” is recognized as a serious criminal offense with mandatory penalties.
Judge Anmar Abdullah Saeed, another participant, highlighted the cultural shift required to make the law effective. He acknowledged that while the legal tools are being sharpened, the community must be encouraged to use them. “In general, our society is closed, and many people are afraid to report digital abuse because of social norms and traditions,” he observed. “That’s why it’s our responsibility to teach the community how to deal with these digital threats.”
The battle for a safer digital Yemen is ongoing. Al-Hariri, who has herself been a target of online bullying and defamation, remains a steadfast advocate for survivors. She urges women and girls to seek justice as a fundamental way “to defend their rights.” Today, any individual in Yemen experiencing digital violence can file a report through the Attorney General’s Office website, a vital step toward breaking the cycle of extortion.
Supported by the For All Foundation for Development and the Yemen Women National Committee, UN Women continues to champion the cause of digital safety. The organization is working to ensure that the “16 Days of Activism” campaign—running from November 25 to December 10—serves as a catalyst for long-term reform. The message is clear: there is #NoExcuse for online abuse. By advocating for survivor-centered legal responses and stronger protection mechanisms, the initiative aims to transform the digital world from a minefield into a space of empowerment. In the face of digital shadows, Yemen’s women are not just victims; they are the architects of a more just and secure future, demanding a world where safety is a right, not a privilege, both online and off.
