LocationsWomen police of Aden support access to justice in Yemen
September 21, 2025
Police personnel at Sheikh Othman Police Station in Aden pose for a group photo. The station, like 19 other police stations in Aden, received training, rehabilitation support, and equipment to enhance its ability to address women's issues and complaints more effectively.
For years, Officer Arzaq worked behind a desk in one of Aden’s Salah Al-Deen police station, handling paperwork and supporting her colleagues. She was committed to her job but felt that something was missing.
“Previously, my role was mostly administrative, and I had little knowledge of legal procedures,” Officer Arzaq shares.
That changed when Officer Arzaq was selected to join a new training programme aimed at integrating practices sensitive to both women and men into policing. Through this initiative, she not only stepped into a more active role, but also gained the tools and confidence to properly investigate cases and advocate for the people she serves.
“Through this training, I gained a deep understanding of key laws, investigative procedures, and how to properly document and handle cases.”
Officer Arzaq and her colleagues celebrate the completion of their training— a milestone under Yemen’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security.
Officer Arzaq is one of 170 officers — including 101 men and 69 women— who have been trained as part of a wider effort to make Yemen’s security institutions more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all members of society. She is also one of 23 women trained in evidence collection.
In addition to training and provision of computer equipment for twenty police stations in Aden, support includes rehabilitation of sewer manholes, water tanks, reception areas, and installation of additional rooms, as well as separate washroom facilities for men and women, air ventilators, and solar energy systems.
With support from the European Union, Denmark, Canada, Italy, Germany, and Norway, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Peace for Sustainable Societies Foundation (PASS), this work is part of Yemen’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).
From policy to practice
At the heart of this change is a bold and localized approach: using self-assessments to understand how police stations currently serve — or fail to serve — women and vulnerable groups. Between August and December 2023, these assessments were conducted in all eight districts of Aden, led by the NAP National Team for Planning, Coordination and Monitoring (NTPCM) and the Aden WPS Local Working Group (LWG), in collaboration with the police.
The results informed Gender-Responsive Action Plans (GRAP) that are now being implemented by the district police centers with support from community leaders and local organizations. The plans aim to:
- Equip police personnel with gender-responsive knowledge and skills.
- Improve access to data.
- Empower officers to conduct investigations effectively and document cases.
- Build trust between police and the communities they serve.
Security that serves everyone
These changes are not just technical — they are deeply personal. The goal is to ensure that women and vulnerable groups feel safe and welcomed when they enter a police station or interact with police.
Trained officers are now in positions where they can listen, support, and act on concerns raised by women and vulnerable groups
“It’s the first time I feel like I have the knowledge and the tools to truly help,” Officer Arzaq says.
The presence of trained women officers and better processes is helping to shift public perception and rebuild confidence in the security sector, especially among women who previously hesitated to seek help.
A policewoman in Al Memdara police station in Aden working on software and ICT equipment provided with support from UNDP.
A policewoman in Al Memdara police station in Aden working on software and ICT equipment provided with support from UNDP.
A blueprint for inclusive peace
While Yemen continues to face institutional challenges as a result of protracted conflict, the WPS NAP’s implementation in Aden shows that meaningful change is still possible at the local level. It also demonstrates that access to justice, inclusion, and trust greatly contribute to peace and security.
The training and support implemented in Aden are part of a broader UNDP-supported strategy to improve access to justice, advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups, and strengthen collaboration among government civil society, and international partners.
Support to the National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in Yemen is part of the wider United Nations Peace Support Facility (PSF), established to support the national peace process by implementing elements of the 2018 Stockholm Peace Agreement. Building on the results of Phase I, the UN PSF Phase II continues to support the objectives for the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) to Yemen. To learn more click Peace Support Facility (PSF) page.
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