Aden -- Amnesty International has issued a powerful call to confront the growing threat of gender-based violence in Yemen, particularly in digital spaces, where women are increasingly targeted through online harassment, blackmail, and privacy violations. 

In its latest report, the organization highlights the urgent need for Yemeni authorities and global tech companies to take concrete steps to protect women and ensure accountability for abuse.

The report, titled “My Life Was Completely Destroyed”, documents technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV) against women in Aden, Taiz, and Sana’a between 2019 and 2023. Victims were subjected to non-consensual sharing of private images and personal information, often via Facebook, leading to severe psychological trauma and social stigma.

Amnesty International criticized both Yemeni authorities and Meta (Facebook’s parent company) for failing to prevent such abuses or provide adequate redress. The organization noted that Meta’s lack of proactive safety measures and Yemen’s weak legal protections have left women vulnerable to exploitation and silencing.

“Authorities across Yemen must take concrete steps to address and prevent, as well as provide redress and support for survivors of all forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence,” Amnesty stated in its findings.

The report also calls for:

- Legal reforms to criminalize online gender-based violence and ensure survivor protection.

- Training for law enforcement to handle digital abuse cases sensitively and effectively.

- Improved digital literacy and privacy tools for users, especially women and youth.

- International pressure on tech platforms to enforce stronger safety protocols in conflict zones.

This advocacy comes amid broader concerns about women’s rights in Yemen, where restrictions on movement, employment, and access to justice persist. The Houthi authorities, for example, continue to ban women from traveling without a male guardian, undermining their autonomy and safety.

Amnesty’s report serves as a stark reminder of the intersection between armed conflict, digital vulnerability, and gender discrimination and the urgent need for coordinated action to protect women’s rights in Yemen and beyond.