Insaf Center for Rights and Development continued its series of investigative stakeholder consultation sessions under the project “Breaking the Silence: Exposing Legal and Institutional Gaps in Protecting Survivors of Domestic Violence in Aden through Evidence-Based Advocacy” by holding the third and fourth sessions, with the participation of representatives from religious institutions, community committees, media outlets, and the Journalists’ Syndicate.
The third session, titled “Between Social Norms and Rights: Prevention, Mediation, and Safe Reporting of Domestic Violence in Aden,” brought together representatives from the Ministry of Endowments and Guidance and community committees. It focused on discussing the impact of social norms and perceptions on the perpetuation or prevention of domestic violence, as well as the role of religious discourse and community leaders in promoting a culture of non-violence and protecting women’s rights.
The session also examined practices related to family and community mediation, the limits of safe intervention, and the risks of social pressure that may force survivors into silence or lead them to relinquish their rights. Discussions also explored ways to strengthen safe referrals to relevant authorities and protection services.
The fourth session, titled “From Silence to Change: The Role of the Media in Exposing Domestic Violence and Strengthening Survivor Protection,” was held with the participation of representatives from media outlets and the Journalists’ Syndicate. It addressed the media’s role in highlighting domestic violence and its legal, social, and institutional dimensions, as well as the challenges journalists face in accessing and verifying information.
Discussions emphasized the importance of adhering to professional and ethical standards when reporting on domestic violence, particularly protecting survivors’ identities and privacy, avoiding stigmatization and victim-blaming, and minimizing the risk of exposing survivors to further harm. The sessions also highlighted the role of investigative journalism in exposing institutional gaps and advocating for improvements to protection systems and access to justice.
The two sessions are part of a series of six investigative stakeholder consultation sessions taking place from October 19 to 26, 2026. The series aims to further examine and analyze findings from the monitoring and documentation of 30 domestic violence cases in Aden Governorate and inform the investigative report being prepared by the Center. This process draws on the perspectives of relevant stakeholders to analyze existing challenges, practices, and opportunities for reform.
Through these sessions, Insaf Center seeks to develop practical, evidence-based recommendations that address legal and institutional gaps and strengthen coordination among government institutions, civil society, the media, and community leaders, ensuring a more effective and safer response to the needs of domestic violence survivors.
The Center emphasizes that addressing domestic violence requires more than legal and judicial measures. It also requires changing social perceptions that justify violence, promoting religious and community discourse that supports rights, and developing responsible media practices that help protect survivors and combat violence and discrimination.
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