Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Forty-sixth session

Geneva, 2–20 May 2011

Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties in accordance with article 16 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Replies by the Government of Yemen to the list of issues (E/C.12/YEM/Q/2) to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the second periodic report of Yemen (E/C.12/YEM/2) *

[28 December 2010 ]

Contents

Paragraphs Page

I.Introduction1–23

II.Mandate of the Ministry for Human Rights regarding human rights complaints3–103

III.Combating corruption11–157

IV.Combating poverty16–328

V.Marginalized groups and the very poor (persons with disabilities and the Akhdam)33–3512

VI.Refugees in Yemen3613

VII.Women37–4813

VIII.Work49–6016

IX.Social insurance61–6520

X.Children and domestic violence66–10521

XI.The rising cost of living and achieving food security106–10732

XII.Health108–11133

XIII.Infrastructure112–12036

XIV.Water and sanitation121–12637

XV.Internally displaced people and national and international responses127–13839

XVI.Illiteracy and education enrolment rates139–14641

Annexes44

I.Introduction

1.The Government of the Republic of Yemen received with interest the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the second periodic report of Yemen (E/C.12/YEM/2) on articles 1 to 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights drew up the list of issues further to its consideration of the State’s second periodic report on the legislative, judicial and administrative measures adopted by Yemen in implementation of the Covenant. This effort reflects its interest in human rights developments in Yemen today.

2.The Government of Yemen is pleased to respond to the distinguished Committee’s requests for clarification. It welcomes the resumption of positive and constructive cooperation with the Committee and should like to express its profound gratitude and appreciation to the honourable members of the Committee for their continuing efforts to promote human rights throughout the world.

II.Mandate of the Ministry for Human Rights regarding human rights complaints

3.Under Republican Decree No. 255 of 2003, concerning the regulation on the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry is assigned various tasks and functions in pursuance of its mandated goals. These relate to the promotion and protection of human rights, in coordination with relevant ministries, institutions and entities, and the development of domestic mechanisms to protect and promote human rights, in line with the State’s commitment to the international treaties to which it is a party. The Ministry’s main tasks and functions are described below:

(a)Proposing policies, plans, programmes and procedures to promote and protect human rights and implementing them in conjunction with the relevant institutions;

(b)Reviewing legislation to see how far it reflects the principles and norms embodied in the international human rights treaties which Yemen has ratified, and proposing necessary amendments to domestic legislation, in conformity with the Constitution and prevailing laws;

(c)Receiving and reviewing complaints from members of the public, organizations and institutions and addressing those within its purview in conjunction with the competent authorities;

(d)Raising awareness of the law by offering the public advice on their rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and the law, and disseminating a human rights culture across society using various awareness-raising techniques;

(e)Strengthening cooperation with civil society human-rights organizations and institutions;

(f)Contributing to the preparation of specialist studies and research on human rights;

(g)Preparing, in ordination with the competent authorities, periodic reports on our country’s international commitments;

(h)Liaising and strengthening cooperation with international human rights organizations;

(i)Developing the skills of Ministry staff and building up their technical and subject matter expertise through the preparation and implementation of internal and external training plans and programmes to be delivered in coordination with relevant institutions;

(j)Collecting, analysing and documenting information on human rights and on the Government’s human rights policy, and establishing and strengthening relations with those ministries, entities and organizations that deal with human rights issues.

4.In line with its mandated goals and the regulation on its practices and procedures, the Ministry of Human Rights has placed complaints processing at the top of its list of functions. This task accounts for a significant part of its work and is its first point of contact with the public. The Ministry deals with complaints using a flexible and well-developed mechanism and drawing on experience that it has accumulated as a result of spending a long time dealing with these matters. The work is done by highly trained staff, who are legal specialists.

5.The Ministry receives many complaints every day, mostly about violations of individual or collective rights, restrictions on freedoms or breaches of legal procedures. However, many of the complaints are either already being heard by the courts or have nothing whatsoever to do with any kind of violation. The reason for this is that many people view the Ministry as a judicial body which addresses all kinds of problems and issues. Hence, when a complaint is submitted it must satisfy several criteria, in particular the following:

(a)It must concern a flagrant violation of a human right that is recognized under domestic legislation and international human rights law;

(b)It must not be under consideration by a judicial body, unless that body is particularly slow in conducting proceedings or has committed an infringement of due process;

(c)The supporting documentation must show that a violation has indeed occurred.

6.The Ministry nevertheless accepts all the complaints that it receives, studies and analyses them and reviews all the related documentation. It checks whether the complaints are credible and meet the above-mentioned criteria. If so, it decides to accept them and initiates the procedure for resolving them in cooperation with the relevant parties. Alternatively, it will advise the complainants on the appropriate legal avenues that are open to them in order to resolve their issues.

7.Since the Ministry is not an institution that offers redress, its role in dealing with these cases is to contact the relevant parties and liaise with them on specific measures to resolve the situation. In order to develop its complaints processing mechanisms, in cooperation with the Human Rights Strengthening and Development Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Human Rights has introduced an electronic and manual documentation system, which has streamlined much of the complaints process.

Complaints received by the Ministry in 2008 and 2009

8.Between January 2008 and December 2009, the Ministry received 1,471 complaints. After studying and analysing them, the Ministry decided to contact the parties involved in 1,098 complaints (75 per cent of the total number received) and to provide the complainants in the other 373 cases with advice on appropriate legal avenues to resolve their issues. The table below shows the number of complaints dealt with by the Ministry in these two ways.

Number of cases referred to the Ministry

1471 complaints
Category	No.	Percentage
Ministry contacted the parties concerned	1 098	75
Legal advice	373	25

Source: Ministry of Human Rights, Performance report, 2008 – 2009.

9.In numerical terms, out of the complaints which the Ministry referred to the parties concerned, the subject of infringements of individual freedoms came top of the list, accounting for 235 complaints or 21 per cent of the total number received, followed by complaints about violations of labour rights, at 19 per cent, complaints relating to the right to legal recourse and equality before the law, at 13 per cent, and complaints about prisoners’ rights, at 11 per cent. At the bottom of the list came complaints about the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to live in a clean environment. There were two complaints on these topics, accounting for only 1 per cent each of the total number. The table below shows the number of complaints received by the Ministry and categorized according to the right involved.

Item	Rights category	No.	Percentage
1	Individual freedoms and physical integrity	235	21
2	Work and w orkers	206	19
3	Legal recourse and equality before the law	145	13
4	Prisoners ’ rights	125	11
5	Rights of the accused	69	6
6	Health	59	5
7	Ownership of property and protection of private property	81	7
8	Access to social welfare and development services	25	2
9	Education	12	1
10	Freedom of opinion and expression	2	0.1
11	Marriage, forming a family, “ civil status ”	12	1
12	Children ’ s rights	25	2
13	Persons with special needs	5	0.4
14	Refugees and displaced persons	44	4
15	Martyrs ’ families	7	0.6
16	Women	19	2
17	The environment	2	0.1
18	Expatriates	15	0.1
19	Victims and those involved in blood feuds	5	0.4
20	Inviolability of cemeteries	5	0.4
Grand total	1 098	100

Source: Ministry of Human R ights, Performance report, 2008– 2009.

10.When the complaints are classified by the type of violation or the right involved, the issue of “a lack of a sense of security and safety” comes top of the list, accounting for 98 complaints, or 10 per cent of the total number, followed by lack of access to a fair trial and unlawful detention (8 per cent each) and attacks on private property (70 complaints, or 6 per cent of all those which the Ministry addressed). The table below shows the main issues raised in the complaints that the Ministry received in 2008 and 2009.

Types of cases referred to the Ministry in 2008 and 2009

			No. of complaints
Item	Rights relating to the complaint	Content of complaint or right	2008	2009	Total
1.	Individual freedoms and physical integrity	Unlawful detention	53	33	86
		“Lack of a sense of security and safety”	67	31	98
		Physical or mental duress	24	14	38
2.	Legal recourse and equality before the law	Lack of impartiality of the courts	1	2	3
		Non-enforcement of court judgements	15	6	21
		Access to a fair hearing	65	22	87
3.	Rights of the accused	Right to be brought before a court or to a prompt hearing	9	7	16
		Torture, inhuman treatment and compensation	12	2	14
		Denial of legal guarantees during an investigation	3	2	5
		Unfair investigation procedures	11	3	14
		Legal assistance	7	13	20
5.	Health rights	Denial of access to State health services	1	1	2
		Treatment for incurable diseases and access to treatment support	24	26	50
6.	Ownership of property and protection of private property	Protection of private property	37	33	70
7.	Access to social welfare and development services	Access to social welfare services and social security	2	11	13
		Access to housing	2	1	3
8.	Labour and workers’ rights	An adequate wage	14	18	32
		Arbitrary dismissal of workers/civil servants	7	9	16
9.	Prisoners’ rights	Torture and inhuman treatment	13	6	19
		Access to financial assistance in case of need	21	10	31
		Release after serving three quarters of a sentence	6	9	15
		Being kept in prison when this is no longer warranted	8	5	13
10.	Freedom of opinion and expression	Expression of opinion	1	1	2
11.	Women’s rights	Violence or discrimination against women	3	4	7
12.	Inviolability of cemeteries	Conservation, enclosure and protection of cemeteries	5	0	5

Source: Ministry of Human Rights, Performance Report, 2008–2009.

III.Combating corruption

11.Recognizing the dangers that corruption poses for society and development, the State issued a republican decree in 2003, establishing a ministerial committee to combat corruption. In 2005, the parliament ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption and a republican decree on the Convention was issued at the end of that same year. The chairpersons of parliamentary committees were empowered to summon ministers and regional governors to appear without needing to refer beforehand to the office of the Speaker. Laws were enacted, such as the Financial Accountability Act, the Anti-Corruption Act, and the Government Contracts and Procurement Act and its implementing regulation. An independent higher committee on contracts was established, and Yemen signed up to a transparency initiative for the extraction industries. The Government instituted a series of additional measures, such as reducing customs tariffs to combat smuggling, curbing expenditure on budget items, rationalizing the use of budget funds, and so on.

12.In July 2007, an independent anti-corruption body was established, comprising elected members who do not work in governmental institutions and are well known for their integrity and moral probity. Although the body is new and has to contend with the difficulties and complexities of combating corruption offences, it has taken numerous measures to combat corruption such as formulating a national anti-corruption strategy and developing mechanisms and plans for its implementation. The strategy was launched in late July 2010 at the regional conference of Arab Anti-Corruption and Integrity Network, which was held in Sana`a.

13.In addition to the conduct of a comprehensive review of existing laws and adoption of measures to deal with legal loopholes and thus reduce opportunities for the criminal misuse of public funds, action was taken to supplement existing legislation through the introduction, for example, of the Financial Accountability Act, the Anti-Corruption Act and a regulation on the [anti-corruption] body. A bill amending certain articles of the Anti-Corruption Act was drawn up and a legal study was carried out on those articles of the Code of Offences and Penalties which deal with corruption offences. Proposals were made on amending and developing the articles to bring them into line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

14.With regard to awareness-raising and education about corruption, the body conducted national anti-corruption campaigns to increase awareness of the phenomenon and how it jeopardizes development and investment. Training and awareness courses were run for civil society organizations and the media, contributing to the launch of a national integrity alliance.

15.Various measures have been taken to establish a transparent and accountable system for combating financial and administrative corruption that includes safeguards to prevent the internationalization of corruption and stop corruption from spreading in central or local government. Senior Government officials and those subject to the Financial Accountability Act are required to submit financial disclosure declarations on their property and sources of income. As of November 2010, a total of 15,326 declarations had been submitted, 13,319 of them during the first phase of the initiative and 2,007 during the second phase, which began in late 2009. The anti-corruption body referred 135 officials of different ranks to the Office of the Public Prosecutor for failing to submit their declarations. Approximately 400 persons will be referred to the Office in the coming days, if they are late in filing their declarations. Since its inception, the body has referred 31 corruption cases and more than 200 accused persons to the Office of the Public Prosecutor and has taken various additional measures to recoup hundreds of millions of Yemeni rials (YRI) on behalf of the treasury.

IV.Combating poverty

16.Yemen has pledged to halve the incidence of poverty by the time the National Development and Poverty Reduction Plan comes to an end in 2010. It uses several means to achieve this, primarily the following:

Focusing on infrastructure development through the 2010 investment programme; infrastructure sectors occupy a very important place in the programme, having been allocated a total of YRI 510,268,491,000, or 61.8 per cent of the total allocations in the programme. For the services and Government administration sectors, the allocation is YRI 147,097,266,000, or 17.8 per cent of the total, followed by human development sectors, at YRI 112,695,570,000 — 13.6 per cent — and the production sectors at YRI 56,302,243,000, or 6.8 per cent.

Mobilizing donor support for investment in infrastructure as a way of alleviating poverty.

Preparing a study, (submitted to the Advisory (Shura) Council) on the potential impact of the global financial crisis on the Yemeni economy.

Preparing a study on the middle class in Yemen.

Preparing a study on the financial crisis in the Yemeni banking sector.

Following up on the implementation of women’s policies and related measures in the context of the Third Five-Year Economic Plan and the National Reforms Agenda.

Focusing also on women’s issues in the context of the Fourth Five-Year Plan, 2011–2015.

Drafting the national policy document on external assistance.

17.The Social Development Fund targets the poorest areas in all its interventions. A total of 4,433 projects were scheduled for implementation in 2006–2009, at a cost of around $528.7 million. Some 2,166 projects were completed, meaning that 48.9 per cent of projects in different sectors were on target. In the education sector, 719 projects, or half the total number, were completed. In the health sector, 253 projects were carried out, while 112 projects for special needs groups were implemented in 2006–2009. As for training, institutional support, the provision of equipment and capacity-building assistance, 360 projects were carried out, representing a completion rate of 72 per cent.

18.Under the Labour-Intensive Works Programme, the Fund carried out approximately 5,824 projects in 2006–2010, at a total cost of around $701.5 million, whereas the target in the Third Five-Year Plan had been to implement around 7,710 projects, at a cost of approximately $927.5 million. Thus, the Fund met 75.5 per cent of the target started in the Plan in terms of project numbers and costs.

19.Around 9.1 million people have directly benefited from these projects, 54 per cent of them females (i.e. 5 million persons). Fund projects helped to generate temporary jobs, accounting for some 20.5 million “person days”, corresponding to around 56,200 “person years”.

Projects carried out under the Public Works Project, 2006–2009

Sector	No. Projects	Cost (millions) US dollars	Beneficiaries (thousands)	Total	Workers/month	Total
Male	Female	Skilled	Unskilled
Health	89	10.8	580	403	983	9 513	10 311	19 824
Education	602	58.7	1 098.8	764	1 863	51 686	55 993	107 679
Water	76	8	153.2	106.5	259.7	6 394	6 925	13 319
Sanitation	24	3.6	68.3	47.5	115.8	2 430	2 631	5 061
Paving/urban development	91	16.5	305.9	212.6	518.5	21 603	23 403	45 006
Agriculture and irrigation	330	30.2	559.5	388.8	948.3	38 407	42 800	81 207
Social affairs and vocational training	17	3	55	38.3	93.3	2 780	3 009	5 789
Total	1 226	130.8	2 820.7	1 960.7	4 781.4	132 813	145 072	277 885

Source: Public Works Project , Annual report , 2006–2009.

20.Approximately 1,226 projects were carried out by different sectors in 2006–2009 as part of the Public Works Project. The total cost was $130.8 million. The education sector was top of the list, accounting for 602 projects costing $58.7 million in 2006–2009. The projects benefited 1.8 million people and generated 107,000 “person months”. The agriculture sector came second, accounting for 330 projects, at a total cost of $30.2 million. Ninety-one paving and urban development projects were implemented as part of the Public Works Project, at a cost of $16.5 million in 2006–2009. In the health sector, some 86 projects were implemented, at a cost of $10.8 million. In the water sector (rainwater, dams and water barrages), 76 projects costing a total of $8 million were implemented over the same period. Some 24 sanitation projects costing $3.6 million were implemented, and approximately 17 vocational training and social services projects were carried out at a cost of $3 million. A total of 4.8 million persons, 41 per cent of them females, benefited from the implementation of these projects, which also helped to generate additional employment in the order of 277,000 “person months”.

21.Under the Third Five-Year Plan, 2006–2010, 1,852 public works projects were implemented at a cost of $205.8 million, as compared with a target of 6,490 projects at a cost of $648.9 million. Thus, the Public Works Project met only 28.5 per cent of the target in the Plan in terms of the number of projects. As for resources, 31.7 per cent of the target in the Plan was met.

22.The number of beneficiaries of the Social Welfare Fund in the period 2004–2008 was 1,037,826. Of these, 46.6 per cent were females.

23.The figures in the table below show that 1,020,965 people received cash assistance in 2009 – an average annual increase from 2006 to 2009 of around 2.5 per cent. The proportion of female recipients was 46.4 per cent on average. Temporary cash assistance disbursed in 2009 amounted to YRI 39,886 million, as compared with YRI 35,481 million in 2008. This increase of 12.4 per cent reflects an increase in the number of people included in social welfare targets, together with an expansion in coverage. Some 21,086 people benefited from social welfare services and programmes in 2009, as compared with 18,034 in 2008. This is an increase of 16.9 per cent. On average, the proportion of female beneficiaries was 45 per cent. As far as training is concerned, the Fund ran courses on numerous subjects, such as embroidery, sewing, beekeeping and livestock raising, which were tailored to the differing conditions in the governorates. A total of 4,875 persons were trained in 2009, as against 3,904 in 2008 – an increase of 24.9 per cent.

Main indicators relating to the Social Safety and Welfare Network (Social Welfare Fund) 2006 –2009

Item	2006	2007	2008	2009
No. of recipients of cash assistance	943 668	1 044 078	1 037 825	1 020 965
Male	503 460	560 760	553 806	548 119
Female	440 208	483 318	484 019	472 846
Total cash assistance from the Fund in thousands of Yemeni rials	15 263 177	18 828 073	35 480 533	39 885 997
No. of beneficiaries of social welfare services and programmes	0	254	18 034	21 086
Male	0	157	10 429	11 186
Female	0	97	7 605	9 900
No. of persons trained by the Fund	2 701	12 322	3 904	4 875
Male	883	7 078	2 415	2 438
Female	1 818	5 224	1 489	2 437
Total value of loans disbursed by the Fund	0	281 059	90 620	4 650
Total number of users of loans disbursed by the Fund	0	3 273	1 002	93
Male	0	1 891	576	49
Female	0	1 382	427	44

Source: Social Welfare Fund .

24.By the end of 2009, the Fund had disbursed interest-free white loans worth YRI 4.6 million to small and microenterprises, as compared with loans worth YRI 90.6 million in 2008, a 94.9 per cent reduction. There was a marked fall in the value of the loans disbursed by the Fund in 2009 compared to previous years, particularly 2006, when more than YRI 281 million was disbursed. Consequently, there was a sharp fall in the number of loan recipients — from 3,273 in 2006 to 93 in 2009 — down 80.1 per cent on average.

25.The figures in the table below show that in 2006–2009 the Fund disbursed 5,642 loans to the governorates, worth a total of YRI 4.6 billion. A comparison of the figures for 2008 and 2009 shows that 133 more loans were granted in 2009 compared with the previous year, a 10 per cent increase. The size of the loans also increased, by YRI 292 million or 23 per cent. The loans portfolio is currently worth YRI 645 million, which is the equivalent of $3.1 million.

Loans disbursed by the Microenterprise Fund in 2006–2009

Year	No. of loans	Total value (thousands of rials)
2006	1 326	665 058
2007	1 421	1 181 614
2008	1 381	1 251 489
2009	1 514	1 543 157
Total	5 642	4 641 318

Source: Microenterprise Fund .

26.In other words, the Microenterprise Fund can be said to have disbursed around 5,642 loans worth a total of YRI 4.6 billion in 2006–2009, whereas the target set in the Third Five-Year Plan was to provide funding of YRI 6 billion. Hence, in the four-year period, the Fund achieved 77 per cent of the target set in the Plan. In the period from 2004 to March 2009, 783 loans worth YRI 182,088,065 were disbursed.

27.The figures in the table below show the number of projects (346) that were contracted and for which funding approval was provided by the Agriculture and Fisheries Support and Promotion Fund in 2006–2009. The loans were valued at a total of YRI 18,936 million, distributed across different sectors. In the crop-growing sector, around 91 projects worth a total of YRI 2.2 billion were funded, accounting for 11.8 per cent of total project spending. They ranked in third position in the funding structure; encouragement was provided for the cultivation of income-generating cash crops such as cotton, grain and dates and farmers were offered incentives to use more land for cultivation. Support was provided for agricultural research into the propagation of improved seed, the conduct of studies and advisory sessions on cotton and grain cultivation, the supplying of modern irrigation equipment and pesticides, the financing of pest control campaigns, the delivery of agricultural supplies and inputs, and the organization of training and agricultural cooperatives.

Projects of the Agriculture and Fisheries Support and Promotion Fund in 2006–2009

Area	No. of projects	Total costs in millions of rials	Ratio (%)
Agriculture – crops	91	2 227	12
Agriculture – livestock	11	307	2
Water installations	234	12 065	64
Fisheries	10	493	3
Local government support		3 844	20
Total	346	18 936	100

Source: Agriculture and Fisheries Support and Prom otion Fund, Annual report, 2006– 2009.

28.With regard to funding of agricultural production/animal farming, 11 projects costing over YRI 307 million were financed, accounting for 1.6 per cent of total project costs. The Fund helped support the development of beekeeping, the supplying of modern beehives and the establishment of associations specializing in this area of activity.

29.As for water installations, between 2006 and 2009 more than YRI 12 billion was provided to fund projects to support irrigation infrastructure, such as dams, barrages, water channels and reservoirs, accounting for 234 water installations. However, no more than 81 projects were implemented over the period – a completion rate of only 34.6 per cent. As at 31 December 2009, a total of 340 projects had yet to be implemented. These projects will be completed in the coming years; YRI 11.6 billion will be needed to cover implementation requirements.

30.As for the fisheries sector, 10 projects costing a total of YRI 493 million received funding approval in 2006–2009. Institution-building activities and programmes for the Fisheries Cooperative Union included training, the organization of fisheries cooperatives and measures to ease the debt burdens of fishermen. The Fund provided YRI 3,844 million, representing 20.3 per cent of the total costs of projects in 2006–2009, to provide local authority support.

31.The National Productive Families Programme expanded its services. Some 2,129 women benefited from the Programme, according to the most recent figures from 2008, and eight new centres were established and opened up in seven governorates in 2008. Al-Amal Bank was opened in 2008 as a mechanism for reducing poverty. It assigned a proportion of its loans for the poor to women.

32.A total of 11,500,000m2 of land was set aside for housing projects for young people and low-income households in nine governorates. Furthermore, 19,000 people were given employment in the private sector by employment agencies and employers. Increases in basic annual pay amounting to YRI 138.5 billion were granted to 864,500 civil servants, providing pay raises of YRI 11,100 per month for each civil servant. Cleaning workers also saw an increase in the minimum rate of pay to YRI 20,000, and poor households were granted exemptions from health and education fees through the social welfare card scheme. Civil society organizations were furthermore encouraged to provide health services to the poor free of charge.

V.Marginalized groups and the very poor (persons with disabilities and the Akhdam)

33.With regard to items 5 and 6 in the Committee’s list of issues, action was taken, the Government has taken measures to improve the situation of certain sectors of Yemeni society, including the following groups: marginalized groups and the very poor, persons with disabilities and refugees. These matters are reviewed in numerous reports which Yemen submitted to the human rights treaty bodies between 2008 and 2010, such as the State’s combined seventeenth and eighteenth periodic reports of November 2009 on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and its fourth periodic report of May 2009 on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. To avoid repetition, we refer the Committee to these two reports.

34.Here, we should like to describe the efforts of the Ministry of Education to address the situation of persons with disabilities and marginalized groups (the Akhdam). The Ministry contacted education bureaux in the governorates and districts to ensure that they complied with an employment quota requiring them to engage a given number of persons with disabilities in all bureaux. In keeping with the Ministry’s efforts to combat racial discrimination, at the beginning of every school year, all Yemeni schools open their doors to all students in primary and secondary education, allowing them to enrol in school without imposing any restrictions or conditions that amount to discrimination against any category of students. All students are treated equally. Indeed, this particular category of students receives financial and in-kind assistance from the Ministry under incentive schemes and is exempted from paying school fees pursuant to Cabinet Decision No. 41 of 2006.

35.Every year the Ministry runs training programmes for teachers and school administrators on techniques for dealing with marginalized groups. It also runs community-based awareness campaigns through the media and with the participation of mosque preachers and religious instructors and counsellors, to draw the public’s attention to the issues involved and to change attitudes towards these groups.

VI.Refugees in Yemen

36.Refugees from the Horn of Africa enjoy all the rights provided for in the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967. The Government of Yemen, in conjunction with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has implemented a refugee registration programme in every governorate of Yemen. Several training courses have been held to sensitize Ministry of the Interior officials and judicial officers to the importance of providing a full range of humanitarian assistance to refugees. The Ministry of Human Rights renewed its agreement with UNHCR under a memorandum of understanding designed to strengthen their cooperation on refugee issues and rights, specifically through awareness programmes on the relevant international legal instruments and the development of domestic legislation in this area.

VII.Women

37.The Committee asks for information on specific measures undertaken, legislative or otherwise, to effectively address the unequal representation of women in decision-making positions in all spheres, including in parliament, Government, the judiciary, public administration, the foreign service and academia (paragraph 8 of the list of issues). This information is provided in numerous reports which Yemen submitted to the human rights treaty bodies between 2008 and 2010. In order to avoid repetition, we refer the Committee to, for example, the State’s combined seventeenth and eighteenth periodic reports of November 2009 on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the State’s fifth periodic report of August 2009 on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the clarifications provided by Yemen in January 2010 in response to the questions raised by the Committee against Torture.

38.The information which the Committee requests in paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 of the list of issues can be found in the State’s combined seventeenth and eighteenth periodic reports of November 2009 on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and the fifth periodic report of August 2009 on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In order to avoid repetitions we refer the Committee to the aforementioned reports.

39.What follows is a description of the measures taken by the Government to mainstream the gender perspective in national policies and programmes. The description contains the information requested in the aforementioned paragraphs and all the other paragraphs of the list of issues that refer to women. The Government is committed to the Beijing Platform for Action, which calls for the advancement of women, the removal of all obstacles to women’s active participation in all spheres and the endorsement of the principle of gender equity. The Government supports women and takes appropriate action to implement the recommendations set out in the Beijing Platform for Action, together with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Efforts to ensure gender mainstreaming in national and sectoral policies have been expanded to include numerous developmental areas, most importantly the following:

The gender perspective features prominently in the health and education components of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2003–2005, as these two areas are the starting points for action in other domains. A working group on gender, comprising representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations and donors from five business groups, was established to monitor the gender component of the Strategy during implementation.

Gender issues were included in the Third Five-Year Plan for Socio-Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, 2006–2010; gender components were included in five key areas of the Plan (health, education, the economy, the environment and infrastructure) and a special section was devoted to women. The section is entitled “Women’s empowerment” and covers four issues, namely, combating violence against women, women’s economic empowerment, strengthening women’s political participation and eliminating discrimination in the law against women.

The Women’s Development Strategy, 2006–2015 focuses on six thematic areas: education, health, the economy, violence, information and decision-making.

The Ministry of Finance circular on the preparation of the 2002–2010 budget includes a part on gender issues.

The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation circular on the preparation of the Fourth Five-Year Plan includes a part on gender issues.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a circular to all ministries and governorates on establishing a database containing information disaggregated by gender.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Defence and Security and the Minister for Local Administration issued a circular on including branch chiefs of the Women’s National Committee in meetings of executive councils and discussions of plans, programmes and budgets.

Gender analysis was introduced as a national mechanism for measuring the gender gap.

A training manual was developed on gender-based budgeting.

The Women’s National Committee was included in the ministerial committee responsible for drafting the Fourth Socio-Economic Development Plan, pursuant to Cabinet Decision No. 145 of 2009.

Cabinet Decision No. 144 of 2009 was issued, approving the midterm review report on the Third Socio-Economic Development Plan, 2000–2010 and the Committee’s participation in the review.

A number of women were appointed to senior posts such as that of Under-Secretary for Civil Affairs and that of the Under-Secretary for Women’s Vocational Education.

40.The gender dimension is included in many sectoral policies, strategies and programmes, including:

A.Education

41.Some gender-based requirements were included in the Vocational Education, Vocational Training and Higher Education Strategy, principally those of increasing girls’ enrolment rates and developing infrastructure in these two different types of education. In addition, the Illiteracy Eradication and Adult Education Strategy focuses on eradicating women’s illiteracy by increasing the number of literacy centres and employing qualified staff. The literacy curriculum is connected to basic skills that are suited to the situation of women and their needs to make a living.

B.Health

42.There are strategies which focus on women’s health and are designed to reduce the maternal mortality rate and provide reproductive health care, namely:

The Women’s Health Development Strategy, 2006–2010, which is overseen by the General Department for Women at the Ministry of Health and Housing and focuses on women’s health and reducing female mortality rates

The Reproductive Health Strategy, 2006–2010, which is overseen by the General Department for Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health and Housing and is designed to provide health support to mothers of childbearing age

C.Economic issues

The Working Women’s Strategy, 2006–2010 is overseen by the General Department for Working Women at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and focuses on raising awareness of women’s rights and increasing women’s participation in the workforce

The Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming in relation to Food Security, 2005–2015 is overseen by the General Department for Rural Women at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation

43.A number of targeted programmes and projects for women have been established, some of which focus on the following areas:

There are six education programmes for girls in the Basic Education Strategy. They are overseen by the Girls’ Education Section at the Ministry of Education. There are a further 23 programmes and projects included in the Strategy, with more than half the activities revolving around education for girls.

There are specific women’s health programmes such as the Reproductive Health Project, which is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Housing, and there are programmes on capacity-building and empowerment of women to enable them to secure their rights in all domains. Numerous entities oversee these projects, including the Women’s National Committee and other governmental and non-governmental organizations that deal specifically with women’s issues. There are also microcredit schemes, which are overseen by the Social Development Fund and Social Welfare Fund and go a long way towards assisting women.

Main measures implemented in the context of national development strategies for women

44.A number of measures were instituted to reduce illiteracy among women and girls. During the period under consideration, 147 literacy centres with a total of 397 classrooms were established and public awareness efforts were stepped up through all the media. Some 966 teachers were trained and taught specific qualitative skills, and the emoluments of teachers and trainers were increased from YRI 3,000 to YRI 8,000.

45.In order to increase the number of public schools built for girls throughout the governorates, the Social Development Fund implemented 172 school projects which benefited 59,000 students, of whom 43 per cent (25,000) were girls. The Fund targets the basic education stage only. Fencing and internal bathrooms were added to girls’ schools in the district of Haydan Sa`dah, a school in the Maqbinah district of Ta`izz governorate and a school in the Sawadah district of Amran governorate. The Fund completed the construction of girls’ schools in five subdistricts in five governorates — Sa`dah, Hudaydah, Amran, Dali` and Ta`izz — in the framework of a girl’s education programme. In addition, several development centres for rural girls were constructed in three governorates: the districts of Haydan Sa`dah and Maqbinah in Ta`izz and Sakhnah in Hudaydah. These centres work to develop the capacities of rural girls aged from 10 to 15 years who have not enrolled in basic education, setting up school clubs and summer camps and offering training in a range of subject areas such as drawing, calligraphy, decorative arts, first aid, home management, handicrafts, etc.

46.Enrolment rates for girls in vocational education and training have increased more than ninefold, although starting from a low baseline: 400 female students in 2000. By comparison, the enrolment for boys increased threefold. A package of proposals has been produced on measures to be taken to support human development and reduce poverty. The purpose behind the proposals is to build 10 new technical institutions to provide skills training for girls. Five existing institutions that were formerly used for girls will be rehabilitated and reopened. The overall aim of these technical and vocational institutions and centres is to train and prepare a skilled workforce that will contribute to development and meet the needs of the Yemeni labour market.

47.In 2006–2007, capacity-building activities for the Yemeni Network to Combat Violence against Women (SHIMA) were undertaken in several areas, principally advocacy, the formation of an alliance against underage marriage for girls and the design and implementation by the Network of alliance-based programmes in schools, targeting school heads and deputy heads in the governorates of Hudaydah and Hadramawt. In addition, school competitions and programmes were instituted and alliances were formed in the governorates of Hudaydah and Hadramawt targeting children and young people.

48.Residential homes were set up to house women released from prison and offer them a full range of care, including accommodation, food, legal, psychological and social assistance, help with resolving problems and conflict with their families, and rehabilitation through courses in sewing, embroidery, computing and so on.

VIII.Work

49.The population of working age (15 years and over) increased from approximately 10.8 million in 2004 to 12.9 million in 2009. As a result of the increase in the number of graduates, of persons not enrolled in regular education, and training and of those dropping out of education, the number of people entering the labour market increased, as did the workforce participation rate, challenging the economy and the private sector to provide sufficient jobs and exacerbating unemployment, which stood at 15 per cent in 2009, slightly lower than the rate in 2004 of 16 per cent.

Unemployment in Yemen (2004–2009)

Description and indicators	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Total unemployed	Male	48 558	513 642	538 024	539 556	540 632	541 495
	Female	203 981	271 108	251 977	253 282	253 419	253 402
	Total	689 039	744 750	790 001	792 838	794 051	794 897
Total workforce	Male	3 729 448	4 304 101	4 434 195	4 560 967	4 684 117	4 804 483
Female	514 952	585 436	597 205	609 679	619 917	629 943
	Total	4 244 400	4 889 537	5 031 401	5 170 646	5 304 034	5 434 425
Unemployment rate	Male	13%	11.9%	12.1%	11.8%	11.5%	11.3%
Female	39.6%	46.3%	42.2%	41.5%	40.9%	40.2%
	Total	0.16	0.16	0.16	0.15	0.15	0.15

Source: Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, 2010.

Policies and measures adopted by the State to increase the number of jobs

50.In recognition of citizens’ right to work, the State introduced a set of employment generation policies, procedures and measures, notably the Economic and Social Development Plan for Poverty Reduction, 2006–2010. The Plan includes goals, objectives and indicators that together are designed to boost economic reforms, promote genuine and sustainable economic growth and create new jobs in order to reduce poverty and build effective partnerships with the private sector, civil society, neighbouring States, international donors and regional and international stakeholders. The Plan aims to achieve the following goals:

(a)Reduce the rate of growth of the working age population to 2.75 per cent by 2010;

(b)Increase the capacity of the national economy to generate employment over the next five years to approximately 4.1 per cent per annum;

(c)Reduce the unemployment rate to 12 per cent by the end of 2010.

51.In order to provide suitable and equitable employment opportunities for all Yemenis, a number of policies and measures have been included in the Plan, as described below:

Building the capacities of the competent ministries to analyse labour supply and demand, and adopting suitable policies and measures in the context of an employment strategy designed to increase job numbers, address poverty and align labour supply with labour demand

Creating the necessary conditions for a suitable investment climate for large- and medium-sized domestic, foreign and joint strategic programmes and projects

Promoting investment in labour-intensive activities and loans and financing for medium-sized and small enterprises and for enterprises of young persons and graduates in general, particularly graduates with a technical education or vocational training

Increasing women’s participation in productive economic activities

Developing legislation and laws on work, working conditions and occupational health and safety standards; improving mechanisms for enforcing labour contracts and resolving disputes; and expanding social insurance schemes

Increasing and improving public awareness of behavioural and ethical standards in the workplace and of the importance of honouring contracts

Updating educational and training curricula and pursuing cooperation with educational and training institutes in order to make sure that their outputs match the needs of the domestic and foreign labour markets

Supporting specialized training centres, in the framework of international technical cooperation agreements, and concentrating on rare areas of specialization for wider development

Involving the social partners in the design of educational and training programmes and curricula to further development, with a focus on teaching English, computing and information systems skills as a key to human resources development

Focusing on and expanding training and retraining programmes for workers and job seekers

Conducting studies and field research on different forms and types of unemployment and identifying the causes and socio-economic impact of unemployment and ways and means of eliminating the problem

Following up on efforts to liaise with neighbouring States to facilitate the employment of trained workers

Opening up employment bureaux in governorates where there are none

Developing employment bureaux, building their institutional and regulatory capacities and working more closely with the private sector on employment issues

Revising the minimum wage to bring it into line with the minimum required for a decent life

Continuing to include the informal sector in official statistics on economic activity and increasing the number of large private enterprises and institutions, while building their capacity to execute projects and contracts in conformity with regional and international specifications and standards

Stepping up efforts to modernize the Civil Service and increase its efficiency and productivity; involving the public administration more closely in efforts to improve efficiency standards; and promoting good governance in order to generate investment and employment opportunities

Policies and procedures to deal with unemployment

52.The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour of Yemen has recently taken steps that may help to reduce unemployment. The main steps taken are listed below:

A national employment strategy was drawn up in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the social partners to identify ways and means of reducing unemployment

A national human resources development strategy has been formulated

A special programme on the development of a labour market information system was carried out, and employment bureaux received assistance with capacity-building

In order to involve the private sector more fully in efforts to reduce unemployment, restrictions on the establishment of private agencies for employment in the domestic and foreign markets were lifted

Trade unions

53.With reference to paragraph 19 of the Committee’s list of issues, concerning the Trade Unions Regulation Act of 2002, the trade unions structure is regulated under article 13 of the Act, which reads: “The trade unions structure shall be in the form of a pyramid which, moving from the base to the top, shall comprise the following:

(a)Trade union committee;

(b)Trade union branch;

(c)Affiliate of the federation;

(d)General trade union;

(e)General federation.”

54.Article 14 of the Act provides: “Any group of more than 15 workers may form a trade union committee in one or more facilities or enterprises in a single occupation or similar occupations.” Article 15 states: “Trade union committees shall be established in work and production facilities and workers’ groups to manage their affairs in accordance with the present Act, the implementing regulation and the statutes.” Article 16 provides: “A trade union branch shall comprise all the trade union committees with facilities and enterprises in a single occupation or similar occupations at the governorate level.”

55.Article 17 provides: “A general trade union shall comprise the representatives of trade union committees or trade union branches belonging to a single occupation or similar occupations and shall manage its affairs in accordance with the present Act, the regulations and the statutes. (b) The statutes shall define the tasks and functions of the general trade union.”

56.Article 20 (a) provides: “General trade unions shall form a federation to be called ‘The General Trade Union Federation of Workers of Yemen’, which shall have legal personality and its own financial assets. (b) The headquarters of the General Federation shall be located in the capital, Sana`a. (c) The General Federation may establish branches in the governorates of the Republic. The regulation and statutes shall define the procedure for establishing branches of the General Federation, together with their functions and activities.”

57.Article 21 of the Act states: “The General Federation shall lead the trade union movement and design policies to achieve its aspirations and goals, internally and externally, in accordance with the present Act, its regulation and the statutes.”

58.On the subject of strike action, article 40 provides as follows:

“(a)A peaceful strike is a legitimate means by which workers and organizations defend their legal rights and interests, where a dispute cannot be resolved through collective bargaining.

“(b)If negotiations fail to resolve a dispute between a trade union and an employer, the trade union may organize a partial or general strike, in coordination with the highest-level trade union organization, in accordance with the present Act.”

59.Article 41 of the Act states: “A strike shall be declared or carried out only after all options for negotiating with the employer have been exhausted. This right shall be exercised according to the following procedure:

“(a)The employer shall be notified at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the strike.

“(b)The right to strike shall be exercised peacefully and in a gradual manner, subject to the following conditions:

“(i)Red notices shall be displayed, for at least three consecutive days, announcing the impending strike action.

“(ii)A partial stoppage of work in the enterprise and its divisions shall be in effect for at least three days.

“(iii)A complete stoppage of work shall take effect after the time limits in paragraphs (i) and (ii) expire.”

60.Article 42 of the Act states that labour relations between the employer, the workers and their trade unions shall not be severed during the strike. Article 43 states that sanctions, including termination of employment, may not be imposed on workers or certain workers for taking or instigating strike action, provided that the strike is conducted in accordance with the Act.

IX.Social insurance

61.In 2009, the Government took steps to improve the State administration, restructuring the insurance system in order to ensure continuity, diversify services and capitalize on insurance resources. The Cabinet endorsed the Social Insurance Bill replacing the Social Insurance Act No. 26 of 1991. Insurance partners, who are members of the General Trade Union Federation of Workers of Yemen and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce participated in drafting the Bill, which takes account of recommendations made by actuarial experts. The Bill was sent before the House of Representatives.

62.With regard to the Social Security Fund, the Government is endeavouring to expand social welfare programmes. In 2009, the Fund conducted a survey of all impoverished people in the governorate of Sa`dah (143,39 cases). It carried out field surveys on social welfare in all the governorates of Yemen with the aim of identifying rural and urban groups that were eligible to receive cash assistance. It also carried out various activities, in particular:

Delivering 17 training programmes for 4,875 trainees

Providing YRI 4.7 million in white loans to 93 borrowers for income-generating projects

Exempting poor families from paying health, education and other fees

63.The Fund disbursed around YRI 4 billion across the full range of activities. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of beneficiaries of the Social Welfare Fund increased to 1,037,826, of whom 46.6 per cent were women. The information in the next table shows that around 1,020,965 people received cash assistance in 2009.

64.The average annual growth rate in 2006–2009 was close to 2.5 per cent. Around 46.4 per cent of the recipients of temporary cash assistance were female. Total cash assistance disbursed amounted to approximately YRI 39,886 million in 2009, as compared with YRI 35,481 million in 2008 – an increase of 12.4 per cent. In other words, the number of persons in the target group increased and social welfare coverage expanded.

65.In 2009, approximately 21,086 people benefited from social welfare services and programmes, as compared with 18,034 in 2008, an increase of 16.9 per cent. Forty-five per cent of these persons were females. As for training, the Fund organized several courses in a range of subject areas such as embroidery, weaving, beekeeping and animal husbandry, taking account of the specificities of each governorate. In 2009, some 4,875 persons were trained, as compared with around 3,904 in 2008 – an increase of 24.9 per cent.

Main safety net and social welfare indicators of the Social Welfare Fund, 2006–2009

Item	2006	2007	2008	2009
Number of recipients of cash assistance	943 668	1 044 078	1 037 825	1 020 965
Males	503 460	560 760	553 806	548 119
Females	440 208	483 318	484 019	472 846
Total cash assistance from the Fund (in thousands of Yemeni rials)	15 263 177	18 828 073	35 480 533	39 885 997
Number of beneficiaries of social welfare services and programmes	0	254	18 034	21 086
Males	0	157	10 429	11 186
Females	0	97	7 605	9 900
Number of persons trained by the Fund	2 701	12 322	3 904	4 875
Males	883	7 078	2 415	2 438
Females	1 818	5 224	1 489	2 437
Total value of loans granted by the Fund (in thousands of Yemeni rials)	0	281 059	90 620	4 650
Number of recipients of loans granted by the Fund	0	3 273	1 002	93
Males	0	1 891	567	49
Females	0	1 382	427	44

Source: Social Welfare Fund.

X.Children and domestic violence

66.With reference to the request in paragraph 23 of the Committee’s list of issues for information on the content of the Domestic Violence Act No. 6 of 2008, we should like to correct an error in the State’s second periodic report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: the Act has not yet been promulgated. As for information on the criminalization of domestic violence and marital rape and the extent of violence against women and children, to avoid repetition, we refer the Committee to the periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the fifth periodic report of Yemen on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

67.We furthermore refer the Committee to the fifth periodic report of Yemen on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which contains detailed information responding to the requests for information contained in paragraphs 24–28 of the Committee’s list of issues. That report outlines the measures taken to: (a) ensure that all marriages are registered in line with article 14 of the Personal Status Act; (b) reintroduce the minimum age of marriage and raise it to 18 years; (c) raise awareness of the negative effects of child marriages; (d) outlaw polygamy; (e) allow the marriage of women without the consent of a guardian; and (f) prohibit and prevent forced marriages. It also details the measures taken to ensure that all children receive a birth certificate free of charge and to deal with child labour and the problem of street children.

Combating child trafficking, 2005–2009

68.The problem of child trafficking in Yemen, in terms of the causal factors, the aims and the means used, is very different from the problem in European States, America and East Asia. The circumstances, the factors at play and the mechanisms used are entirely different from those in certain countries which are notorious for child trafficking. A review and an analysis of reports on child victims of trafficking issued by the Harad Reception Centre in Hajjah governorate and a reception centre in the Sana`a City governorate, together with the findings of a study conducted in April 2004 by the Ministry of Social Affaires and Labour, suggest that approximately 90 per cent of child trafficking cases in Yemen involve the exploitation of children in work and in smuggling of goods. The other 10 per cent involve children being exploited to look after livestock or to beg in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A child may be exposed to various problems that have adverse psychosocial effects, because of the risks that they face during the outward and return journey, or while staying in the border areas of neighbouring States or returning to their home region.

69.This problem was analysed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour in 2002–2003. The Ministry held various meetings and organized visits to border areas to verify and observe the problem. It conducted a preliminary field study on child trafficking in the governorates of Hajjah and Mahwayt in April 2004. The study yielded statistical data on the number of children taken in by reception centres in Harad and Sana`a between May 2005 and December 2009, showing that of 3,164 children taken in by the centres, between 10 and 15 per cent were repeat cases, where children from border areas had been employed in smuggling between the two countries. The children had been repeatedly caught, returned to Yemen and received by the Harad Reception Centre in the Hajjah governorate. A further 140 children were returned to the port of Hudaydah in the first half of 2007.*

Efforts and measures to curb this problem

70.The efforts and measures undertaken vary, depending on the tasks and functions of governmental and other organizations involved in implementation. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) office in Sana`a has played a major role in supporting programmes and measures to curb the problem. These efforts began with the establishment of a unique, simple and informal mechanism for each respective organization, depending on its role and responsibilities. Work on this issue culminated in the establishment of a technical committee to combat child trafficking through cooperation and coordination between the different stakeholders in Yemen. The Committee’s work is coordinated by the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and takes the form of a national action plan. These efforts and activities can be described in this report under six headings:

Studies, plans and strategies

Development of legislation

Strengthened cooperation and coordination

Information and awareness-raising

Development and strengthening of security and judicial procedures

Protection, psychological rehabilitation and reintegration of child victims of trafficking

Training and capacity-building

Studies, plans and strategies

Studies

A field study on child trafficking, entitled “Study of the situation in the governorates of Hajjah and Mahwayt”, was carried out in May 2004. Two rounds of discussions on the findings of the study were held with a wide range of governmental and other organizations, relevant international organizations and representatives of the State, private and foreign media.

A feasibility study on social reintegration programmes for child victims of trafficking was conducted in 2005–2006.

With a view to updating statistics and information, a procedural assessment will be conducted on the problem of child trafficking. A plan for the study was drawn up in 2009.

Plans and strategies

71.The National Strategy for Children and Young Persons, 2006–2015 was adopted in August 2007. A plan for the implementation of the strategy was adopted in October 2007. The plan focuses on Millennium Development Goal 3 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and takes 12 thematic areas as priority issues to be addressed with respect to children and young people. One of these thematic areas includes a component on protecting deprived children, which entails the following:

Creating a database to help further understanding of the situation of deprived children

Developing common areas of understanding and promoting joint action (Government institutions and civil society organizations) in order to help deprived children

Introducing social welfare measures

Strengthening judicial and legal reforms in connection with young persons by, for example, raising the age of criminal responsibility and establishing provisions on diversionary measures

Endeavouring to eliminate violence against children by monitoring and documenting cases and rehabilitating victims

Reintegrating child victims

72.The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood designed a national plan to combat child trafficking, which was endorsed by the Cabinet in March 2009. The plan regulates the full range of activities and programmes which all governmental and non-governmental organizations are required to carry out to protect and care for children who are exploited in trafficking. The plan envisages a number of interventions that focus on the seven areas for action listed above.

Development of legislation

73.Draft amendments to bring the laws on children’s rights into line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international norms were prepared. The draft amendments were endorsed by the Government in March 2007 and referred to the House of Representatives for completion of the relevant procedures. The draft amendments contain new provisions explicitly criminalizing child trafficking, the exploitation of children in begging and the sexual exploitation of children and prescribing penalties for traffickers and exploiters. Most importantly, a new, three-part section (sect. 4), entitled “Child exploitation offences”, was added to the Code of Offences and Penalties.*

Child trafficking

Article 262 bis

“A term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any natural or legal person that transfers a child below the age of 18 to another State for the purpose of the illegal exploitation of that child. The penalty shall be a term of up to 7 years’ imprisonment, if the perpetrator uses deception or force. A term of from 3 to 10 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed, if the transfer was accompanied by a sexual assault or the infliction of bodily harm. This shall be without prejudice to the imposition of the fixed penalty (hadd) [under Islamic law] or the penalties of retaliation (qisas), payment of blood money (diyah) or an indemnity for bodily injury (arsh), as the case may be.”

Article 262 bis 1

“A penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on a parent who knowingly hands over a child below the age of 18 to another person in order to have the child taken across the national border to another State. The penalty shall be doubled in the event of a repeat offence or if the child who is handed over is a girl or is below the age of 10. This provision shall apply likewise to the legal guardian and testamentary tutor.”

Article 262 bis 2

“A term of up to 3 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any accomplice who assists in the preparation, facilitation or completion or who instigates any of the offences specified in the two preceding articles of this section. The penalty shall be a term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment, if the accomplice or instigator of the offence is a public official who thereby exploits his or her position or is a person responsible for the child’s upbringing or supervision.”

Article 262 bis 3

“The person effecting the transfer, the person receiving the child and the accomplice to and instigator of the offence shall be deemed to have participated in any offence that is committed against the child or that occurs during the transfer or in the country of destination. The penalty shall be that prescribed by the present Act for participation in an offence.”

Sexual exploitation of children

Article 262 bis 4

“(a)A term of up to 7 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who, through enticement, encouragement or any form of assistance, compels a male or female under the age of 18 to engage in acts of indecency, debauchery or prostitution.

“(b)The penalty shall be a term of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, if the perpetrator of the offence is an ascendant or a brother of the victim or a person responsible for the victim’s upbringing or supervision.

“(c)The penalty shall be a term of up to 12 years’ imprisonment, if the perpetrator of the offence used any form of coercion, intimidation or deception.”

Article 262 bis 5

“A term of up to 7 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who takes a child under the age of 18 across the national borders for the purpose of sexually exploiting or facilitating or instigating the sexual exploitation of the child. The penalty shall be a term of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, if the perpetrator is an ascendant or a brother of the child or a person responsible for his or her upbringing or supervision.”

Article 262 bis 6

“A term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who entices, encourages or helps a male or female below the age of 18 to leave the family home in order to engage in acts of indecency, debauchery or prostitution.”

Article 262 bis 7

“A term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who uses a photograph, a drawing or the name of a child below the age of 18 in any publication, information material or advertisement for the purpose of pandering to sexual impulses or of inviting, inciting or encouraging others to engage in immoral and indecent acts. The penalty shall be a term of up to 7 years’ imprisonment, if the photograph or drawing shows the child’s genitalia.”

Exploitation of children in begging

Article 262 bis 8

“A term of up to 3 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who, other than in a situation of necessity, exploits a child below 18 years of age in begging, by offering, pushing or forcing the child to engage in this activity. The penalty shall be doubled, if the person exploits a mental or physical disability of the child or lives off the proceeds from such exploitation, or if the child suffers physical or psychological damage as a result.”

Article 262 bis 9

“A term of up to 3 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on a parent who knowingly hands over his or her child below 18 years of age for the purpose of the child’s exploitation in begging. This shall apply likewise to persons acting in loco parentis. The penalty shall be a term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment, if the child handed over is below 10 years of age or has a mental or physical impairment.”

Article 262 bis 10

“A term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who inflicts a disability on a child below 18 years of age in order to exploit that child in begging or a person with authority over a child who hands the child over to another to inflict a disability with a view to exploiting the child in begging. This shall be without prejudice to the right of the victim to retaliation, (qisas) blood money (diyah) or an indemnity for a bodily wound (arsh), as the case may be.”

A new article was added after article 233 of Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994, concerning offences and penalties, as amended. The article bears the title “Trafficking in human organs” and the new text reads as follows.

Article 233 bis

“A term of up to 5 years’ imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who traffics in human organs, whether in the Republic or across the national borders. The penalty shall be a term of up to 7 years’ imprisonment, if the victim is a child below 18 years of age or if the perpetrator is an ascendant of the victim or a person responsible for his or her upbringing or supervision.”

Strengthened cooperation and coordination

At the domestic level

74.A technical committee to combat child trafficking was established by the relevant stakeholders (the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Human Rights, local authorities in Sana`a City and the Hajjah governorate, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood — acting as coordinator — and the Saleh Foundation, a non-governmental organization).

75.In 2009, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood established the terms of reference of the technical committee, clarifying the responsibilities and role of each committee member in helping to fulfil the committee’s mandate.

76.The Higher National Committee for Childhood and Youth was established under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic, and the implementation plan for the National Strategy for Childhood and Youth was adopted, providing for interventions and activities to protect children deprived of family care, including child victims of trafficking.

At the external level

77.Consultations were held between the organizations that deal with the problem of child trafficking in Yemen and their counterparts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These meetings were organized and coordinated by the UNICEF offices in Sana`a and Riyadh. The first meeting was held in Riyadh in June 2006, the second in Sana`a in November 2006 and the third in Riyadh in October 2007. Several recommendations came out of these meetings, the most important being the following:

(a)A joint technical committee should be established for the Yemeni-Saudi Coordination Council to represent the stakeholders at the same level in the two countries;

(b)Regular reports on efforts to combat child trafficking should be submitted to the Yemeni-Saudi Coordination Council;

(c)It is important to obtain in good time before the meeting a list of the names and functions of participants from the Saudi side in order to identify a group of their counterparts;

(d)The outcomes of the meeting should be presented to the Cabinet for instructions on action to be taken, and coordination should be effected with the relevant individuals in the Department for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation;

(e)If the signing of the memorandum of understanding is delayed, it will be important to begin work on the draft joint study and to define a mechanism for handing over and receiving children who are returned to Yemen, since these are both important matters and may be addressed more effectively.

78.The first meeting of the Bilateral Cooperation Committee of the Ministry of Social Affairs of Yemen and its counterpart in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was held in January 2007 in Riyadh. One of the key decisions of the meeting was to approve the joint study on child trafficking and the establishment of the mechanism to regulate the process for handing over and receiving children returned to Yemen. Action was taken in these two areas, based on the recommendation made by the joint coordination group at the meeting held in Sana`a in November 2006.

Awareness-raising and information

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour conducted awareness campaigns on the problem of child trafficking in Sana`a City and the governorates of Hajjah, Hudaydah, Mahwayt, Sa`dah and Ta`izz. To date, these campaigns have targeted 3,200 persons, 1,700 in 2007–2008 and 1,500 in 2009. Those targeted are members of local assemblies and colleges of sheikhs, district elders, mosque imams, school heads and well-known public figures in the 47 districts of target governorates where children are most likely to fall victim to trafficking.

Awareness campaigns have been run by the Ministry of Human Rights in the governorates of Hajjah, Hudaydah and Raymah.

Publications, leaflets, newspaper articles and television and public awareness programmes drawing attention to the problem have been produced by governmental and civil society organizations, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Democracy School and the Shudhab Foundation.

An awareness campaign on the dangers of child trafficking was intensified on Hajjah governorate radio.

Ministry of the Interior programmes were continued and expanded to raise awareness among officers and other members of the police of the problem and the impact of child trafficking. These programmes were run across Yemen and entailed the following:

“Awareness weeks” organized throughout Yemen drawing the attention of 5,400 police officers and members of the ranks to the problem.

Media discussions with the participation of 30 representatives of relevant organizations.

Ongoing publication of the regular supplement to Al-Harras newspaper, and slots in the Al-Harras television programme and on the “Police and society” radio programme. The Ministry of the Interior uses these audio-visual programmes for various awareness-raising activities relating to the protection of children, including child victims of trafficking.

Children participate in awareness activities run by the Shudhab Foundation on the dangers of child trafficking and the Children’s Parliament has helped to raise awareness among some 10,000 children.

A manual for mosque preachers has been designed on protecting children’s rights and work has begun on the development of basic material on children’s rights for inclusion in the curriculum of the Higher Institute for Proselytization and Guidance.

Educational films have been produced to raise awareness of child trafficking. They include:

A 2007 film called “Stolen childhood”, which was the first awareness film to be produced by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour

An animated film on the dangers of child trafficking called “Ahmad’s return”, which was produced by the Shudhab Foundation

A second documentary film, produced in 2009 by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, on the problem of child trafficking

79.In 2009, awareness activities and programmes were run on the problem of child trafficking. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, in cooperation with the General Federation of Trade Unions of Workers of Yemen and the General Trade Union for Transport, conducted awareness campaigns for drivers of public transport vehicles on the dangers of child trafficking and the relevant legal sanctions. Drivers have been encouraged to participate in programmes to curb the problem. To date these campaigns have targeted approximately 1,160 drivers of public transport vehicles in the governorates of Hudaydah, Sana`a, Sa`dah, Hajjah, Ta`izz, Dhimar and Ibb.

80.The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour distributed more than 30,000 items of printed matter, including posters and educational materials, to raise awareness of the dangers of child trafficking. These items were distributed to local communities and drivers in the governorates and in targeted districts in the governorates of Sana`a, Ta`izz, Hajjah, Hudaydah, Mahwayt, Dhimar and Ibb where children are most likely to be trafficked.

81.In 2009, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour ran an awareness campaign on the dangers of child trafficking, child labour and violence against children and early marriage of girls. The campaigns were targeted at families and children in the camps in Sa`dah, Amran and Hajjah who had been displaced as a result of the war against rebels and outlaws. More than 3,000 families and 6,000 children benefited from these campaigns.

82.In 2009, the Shudhab Foundation for Children ran awareness-raising events in several governorates on the dangers of child trafficking in the islands and on the streets. The events were organized in cooperation with the Coastguard Service and the United States Embassy. The Foundation set up youth groups to raise awareness of child trafficking among residents in the poorest areas of the governorates of Hajjah, Ibb, Hadramawt and Hudaydah. In addition, programmes were run for displaced children in the Mazraq camps in Harad in the Hajjah governorate.

Development and strengthening of security and judicial procedures

83.The Ministry of the Interior and its security posts in border towns have stepped up controls and surveillance and have managed to intercept many would-be child traffickers before they reached the border. A total of 1,684 children were intercepted between 2004 and March 2009. This figure is broken down as follows:

Year	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Total
Sex	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
	270	26	243	25	69	1	447	7	431	9	151	5	1 616	68
Males + females	296	268	70	454	440	156	1 684

84.The Ministry of the Interior (Immigration and Passports Department) is tightening up procedures for adding children to adults’ passports, particularly those of the inhabitants of areas known for child trafficking.

85.Offices of the Ministry of the Interior have referred a number of persons accused of child trafficking to the public prosecution service and the courts: 94 in 2004–2005, as compared with 13 in 2007, 17 in 2008 and 4 in the first quarter of 2009. Ministry of the Interior security services identified two networks, one responsible for sexually exploiting children in Yemen and then trafficking them abroad for sexual exploitation, the other for exploiting children economically and then trafficking them abroad for engagement in begging. Members of the two networks were brought to trial and convicted.

86.The Ministry of Justice and the public prosecution service treat child trafficking cases as urgent cases. The Ministry has issued circulars to public prosecutor’s offices and the courts, drawing their attention to the importance of taking stringent measures in dealing with child trafficking cases. Several child traffickers have been convicted (receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 3 years); in 2005, 22 individuals were convicted of child trafficking, as compared with 6 in 2008–2009. Copies of some judgements are attached.

87.Ministry of Interior awareness campaigns for police officers on child trafficking have helped to raise officers’ awareness of different methods and forms of child trafficking and to boost surveillance and interception activities in many trafficking cases.

Protection, psychological rehabilitation and reintegration of child victims of trafficking

88.Two centres have been established to receive and offer protection to child victims of trafficking. The first, in the border area of Harad, was established in April 2005 and the second, in the capital district of Sana`a, was established in March 2008.

89.Educational, social and recreational programmes are run for children at the centres, with technical staff on hand to provide the necessary input. A total of 3,164 children benefited from welfare, psychological rehabilitation and reintegration services delivered at these centres from May 2005 to December 2009. This figure can be broken down as follows.

Year/centre	May–December 2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Total
Harad centre	368	900, of whom 796 from the centre and the remainder from other welfare homes in Sana`a	622	542	598	3 030
Sana`a centre				from March only 74	60	134
Total	368	900	622	616	668	3 164

90.A total of 140 children were returned to Hudaydah port in the first half of 2007.* Coordination is effected with social welfare centres and homes to assist child victims of trafficking and support their families in reintegrating the children into society.

91.These centres run aftercare programmes for child victims of trafficking who are returned to their families and support the families in offering the children protection and care and enrolling them in school. In 2009, some 180 child victims attending the Sana`a City and Harad centres benefited from this programme. Forty children were enrolled in a vocational training programme run in cooperation with the Saleh Foundation.

92.In 2009, under the ACCESS-Plus Programme, which is funded by the United States Department of Labor and run by CHF International, the Social Welfare Charity enrolled 450 child victims of trafficking in regular schools in the Hajjah governorate.

93.Members of local councils and colleges of sheikhs, well-known individuals and the security services contribute to efforts to prevent children from being trafficked again, by having their families give written pledges in that regard.

94.The running of the Harad Reception Centre has been entrusted to the Saleh Foundation, while the Shudhab Foundation helps to oversee and subsidize the Sana’a Centre, providing it with material it needs to host children and supply their daily requirements and subsidizing health and educational services and training programmes for children and staff. This helps to build effective partnerships with specific civil society organizations in implementing child protection programmes.

95.Child protection teams have been established in the Aflah al-Sham district of Hajjah governorate as an experiment that could be replicated in other districts, if successful. A children’s leisure centre has been established in the district, and supplied with equipment and facilities, as a way of raising awareness among young people in the area and helping to dissuade children from leaving the district.

96.Socio-economic and local community development programmes continued to be implemented, as follows:

(a)Poverty eradication programmes and programmes to expand the social safety net in target areas continued to be implemented;

(b)More than 100,000 new cases were taken on by the Social Welfare Fund in 2007, 500 of them families in border areas. In addition, the Fund conducted a comprehensive social survey in 2008 on cases of need connected with poverty. Approximately 700,000 cases will be targeted by Fund programmes in the coming years and will include areas where child trafficking is prevalent;

(c)Child victims of trafficking and their families are targeted in Social Welfare Fund projects and are offered assistance in the framework of a conditional aid project funded by the World Bank.

Training and capacity-building

97.Several training programmes have been run for specialists in combating child trafficking. UNICEF supported a training programme of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which was run for staff of a centre that offers protection to trafficked children. Training was provided to managers and social workers employed at social welfare centres and homes and safe childhood centres, focusing on the following subjects: protection and psychological recovery; social reintegration; employment procedures in centres and homes for the protection of trafficked children; and skills development in the identification of child victims of trafficking. A total of 120 individuals received training, with support from UNICEF and IOM.

98.In 2007, two training courses on dealing with child trafficking were run for 40 police officers working at national ports. Three additional courses were run for police officers, border guards and Harad centre employees to improve coordination among them and enhance monitoring of child trafficking. In April and May 2009, the Saleh Foundation ran four-day courses for a total of 90 persons, with 30 persons attending each course.

99.In 2009, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, in cooperation with the Ministry of Information, ran four training courses for 100 information specialists on combating child trafficking. The courses were run in four governorates: Sana`a, Hajjah, Hudaydah and Mahwayt.

100.The Social Reform Charity ran several training courses under the ACCESS-Plus programme, which is funded by the United States Department of Labor and overseen by CHF International. These courses include:

(a)A course for 120 teachers from the governorates of Hajjah, Ta`izz, Hudaydah and Aden on teaching children life skills such as problem solving, communicating with others and learning how to play;

(b)A course for 120 teachers from the governorates of Hajjah, Ta`izz, Hudaydah and Aden on designing and making teaching materials using local sources;

(c)Four courses, in the governorates of Hajjah, Ta`izz, Hudaydah and Aden, for 80 information specialists on combating child labour and trafficking and on children’s rights;

(d)Training for 110 project volunteers on research on children in target groups, managing awareness campaigns, and networking;

(e)Training for 95 preachers and counsellors on the dangers of child labour and child trafficking and on children’s rights and the importance of education.

Additional information

101.The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood prepared the initial report of Yemen on the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The report was discussed with the Committee on the Rights of the Child in October 2009. The report describes all the actions and measures taken by the Government in this context and offers details on efforts made to combat child trafficking, sexual exploitation, etc.

102.The Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted its concluding observations and made recommendations on how to strengthen efforts and programmes in this domain. Attached is a copy of those recommendations. In December 2009, the Supreme Council, acting under the auspices of the Prime Minister, held a workshop to devise a mechanism for implementing the Committee’s recommendations on the report. A draft action matrix was produced, specifying what kind of interventions and activities should be undertaken.

103.The Council and the technical committee to combat child trafficking are essentially focusing at present on implementing the remaining activities listed in the National Plan to Combat Child Trafficking, following up on the legislation on children which is currently before the House of Representatives, stepping up coordination with the Saudi side and completing the evaluation programme on child trafficking programmes begun in 2004. An international expert was recruited, in cooperation with UNICEF, and began work in January 2009 on the evaluation programme, which comprises the following activities:

1.Evaluating the programme to combat child trafficking.

2.Conducting a study on cross-border movements of children.

3.Providing trainer training on combating child trafficking.

4.Reviewing and developing the National Plan to Combat Child Trafficking.

5.Reviewing and developing the regulations on centres for child victims of trafficking, and developing the terms of reference of the technical committee to combat child trafficking.

104.The process of selecting and training researchers was completed and field visits were conducted to gather information for two of the studies: the evaluation of the programme to combat child trafficking and the study on cross-border movements of children. The information was provided to the international expert and two Yemeni experts. It is now being analysed and a preliminary draft of the evaluation findings is being prepared. The final version is expected to be ready by June 2010. In the coming days, a training course for professionals will be designed and delivered, with the participation of several specialists from governmental and non-governmental organizations.

105.The National Plan to Combat Child Trafficking is being revised and further developed, and the regulations on reception centres for child victims of trafficking are also being developed. The terms of reference of the technical committee to combat child trafficking are being elaborated. The project will soon be completed and the findings of the evaluation will be announced.

Difficulties and challenges

The inaccuracy and paucity of information and the non-availability of statistical data on the problem in Yemen and Saudi Arabia

The plethora of methods used to return children via different ports of entry and the lack of a proper mechanism for delivering and receiving child victims of trafficking who are returned by Saudi Arabia to Yemen

The shortage of material and human resources in reception centres for children who are returned to Yemen and in other relevant institutions

The fact that efforts to combat the problem are concentrated on border areas in Hajjah governorate, which implies that trafficking only occurs in those areas, whereas, in fact, many cases occur in the border areas of Sa`dah governorate, meaning that efforts must be focused there as well

The fact that efforts to combat poverty still need time and planning, if they are to have any effect in terms of improving families’ economic situation

XI.The rising cost of living and achieving food security

106.Yemen is facing a worldwide increase in the cost of basic necessities. In order to address this problem and to improve living standards, the State has introduced a package of reforms covering the State administration and the structural and institutional development of the organs of State. The following steps have been taken:

Phases 1 and 2 of the National Pay Strategy have been completed, resulting in an annual increase in basic pay of YRI 138.5 billion for 864,500 civil servants, corresponding to an average annual pay rise of YRI 11,100 for each civil servant

Pensions have been increased by a total of YRI 23.2 billion for 226,200 pensioners, an average increase of YRI 5,800 per annum per pensioner

In-kind benefits for 212,000 health and education sector employees have been awarded, at a total cost of YRI 25 billion per annum

107.The State has furthermore taken measures and adopted policies to combat price hikes, suppress monopolies and protect consumers, as described below.

Export centres and refrigeration warehouses have been established.

Reservoirs, dams, road projects and drinking water projects have been implemented.

Nine water projects and four electricity projects have been implemented.

A loan agreement has been signed with the Abu Dhabi Fund to finance the construction of some dams.

Various agricultural products are subsidized.

Agricultural land in the Hadramawt Valley has been rehabilitated.

Subsidies are provided for animal-raising and preserving livestock.

Activities have been carried out to preserve groundwater sources and utilize rainwater.

The establishment of the Agriculture and Fisheries Export Development Centre has been completed.

The preparation and implementation of the National Food Safety Strategy for Yemen had been completed.

Various labour-intensive projects have been run by the Social Development Fund, including water harvesting projects, projects on the rehabilitation and development of agricultural terraces, and projects on preventing soil erosion and the uprooting of trees when this is harmful for the environment. The programme targeted about 16,341 families in rural areas with a high degree of geographical diversity, covering 80 subdistricts in 40 districts of 11 governorates. All the target areas involved are agricultural areas, and a total of 76 projects were run in this domain.

XII.Health

108.In addition to the information provided in the reports of Yemen on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, we shall describe hereunder the main new measures introduced in the area of health in 2009:

1.Act No. 30 of 2009, concerning the protection of those living with the AIDS virus and the protection of society from the disease, was issued.

2.Act No. 24 of 2009, concerning public health, was issued.

3.Republican Decree No. 9 of 2009, concerning the establishment of the Yemeni National Medical Council, was issued.

4.The national health system endorsed a report by the National Certification Panel on the elimination of infant poliomyelitis in Yemen.

5.The effects of swine flu (H1N1 virus) were contained.

6.The National Health Strategy, 2010–2015 document was finalized.

7.Unprecedented success was scored in reducing the incidence of malaria in Tihama to 4.5 per cent in 2009, as compared with 7.8 per cent in 2008.

8.The health services coverage rate remained stable, at 67 per cent as of the end of 2009.

9.Five health treatment facilities were established in five governorates to raise the standard of treatment services.

10.The following efforts were made to improve the delivery of routine vaccinations through established facilities and outreach activities and to raise the coverage rate above 86 per cent.

A national infant poliomyelitis campaign was carried out, targeting more than 4 million children. A coverage rate of 98 per cent was achieved and the total cost was YRI 346 million. In addition, a measles and polio campaign was run, targeting 4.2 million children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years. An immunization rate of over 95 per cent was achieved for the two vaccines and a Vitamin A supplements campaign was run, at a cost of YRI 469 million.

There was a marked fall in the number of malaria cases – to only 116,000.

A leaf-spraying campaign was carried out in Socotra island, at a cost of YRI 7,393, as part of ongoing efforts to rid the island of malaria. More than 90,000 mosquito nets were distributed in the Hajjah, Shabwah, Hadramawt and Ma’rib governorates. An anti-malaria drug treatment policy was implemented; 295,895 doses were distributed, together with 1,577,751 fast-acting test strips to over 1,000 health facilities. Eighty per cent of homes were sprayed in the framework of a World Health Organization indoor residual spraying strategy and a strategic plan to rid the Arabian Peninsula of malaria.

The incidence of tuberculosis fell from 43 to 27 cases per 100,000 population, after the daily treatment under direct observation strategy (DOTS) was expanded to include all districts. The recovery rate is now over 86 per cent.

The incidence of bilharzia fell after a survey of 30 districts in 6 governorates was conducted, at a cost of YRI 26 million, and a public information campaign was carried out in 10 districts of Dhimar, Sana`a and Lahaj governorates, where 802,000 citizens were treated.

Thirteen teams carried out spraying operations to combat Dengue fever in Ta`izz governorate.

The neonatal tetanus eradication programme continued in the framework of a series of campaigns aimed at the administration of at least two doses of vaccine to women aged between 15 and 45 years. It was accompanied by awareness-raising on the importance of hygiene during childbirth and the implementation of phased vaccination programmes for 2 million women in 14 governorates. A vaccination programme was run for 584,322 children in 5 governorates, at a total cost of YRI 367,277.

Drugs were provided for chronic diseases like cancer, kidney dialysis cases and diabetes, etc., at a total cost of YRI 3,383.237.

The district health system was strengthened, through supplementary outreach activities carried out in 127 districts and the creation of 1,850 additional health facilities.

Seven camps were set up in the governorates of Hadramawt, Socotra, Abyan, Ibb, Dhimar, Lahaj and Shabwah, where 3,825 surgical operations were performed and 22,745 medical consultations in 10 areas of medical specialization were conducted.

Reproductive health services were improved and a decision was taken to provide childbirth services and family planning services free of charge. The following results were obtained:

The proportion of pregnant women receiving prenatal care rose from 40 per cent to 47 per cent, while the proportion of women who were assisted by a trained attendant during delivery rose to 36 per cent.

The number of facilities offering reproductive health services increased to 2,422.

One hundred holders of diplomas, doctors and midwives received training in emergency delivery services, resuscitation of newborns, nursing surgical patients, and nursing premature babies.

The number of facilities providing basic emergency delivery services rose to 395, while the number offering comprehensive services rose to 69.

Best practices for the post-natal stage were applied and introduced in hospitals in 10 governorates and service providers were trained in them.

Drugs for emergency deliveries were distributed to centres in 17 governorates and preparations were made to create regional warehouses in 2 governorates.

The first group of technical staff and emergency services ancillary staff in five governorates graduated in maternal health care and care for newborns.

Health and population education and information

109.The National Centre for Health and Population Education and Information is involved in implementing the National Strategy on Health and Population Education and Information. It helps raise health awareness in society at large, using direct communication channels to deliver health education to individuals and groups. It organizes fairs and public events, delivering health messages through travelling cinemas, which are set up in schools and public squares.

110.In 2008, a total of 42 public events and fairs were organized and attended by around 52,708 persons. Efforts have been made to secure support from local authorities; 10 motivational and information workshops have been held for local councils, those involved in health, education, religious endowments, the agriculture sector and youth work and civil society organizations in the governorates of Ta`izz, Hajjah, Mahwayt, Aden and coastal Hadramawt. As for national communication channels (radio, television and the press), 337 hours of airtime on the radio were devoted to health programmes and 47 hours of television programmes were broadcast. The press produced and published articles, investigation pieces and public information materials on 235 health topics.

111.The Government’s efforts to improve health services and expand maternal health-care services have brought about improvements in indicators, as shown below:

The infant mortality rate fell to 68.5 per 1,000 live births

The under-five mortality rate fell to 78.2 per 1,000 live births

The maternal mortality rate fell to 365 per 100,000

The number of deliveries conducted under medical supervision reached 385,520

The total fertility ratio fell from 6.1 per cent to 5 per cent

The uptake rate for modern family planning methods rose from 14 per cent to 19 per cent

XIII.Infrastructure

Electricity and roads

112.The Government has paid particular attention to infrastructure sectors, especially the electricity, water and roads sectors, including them in the 10 priorities for the promotion of economic growth that it established in September 2009. The following Government measures were taken in 2009.

Electricity

113.The Government is committed to reducing shortages and raising output capacity, by drawing on natural resources to supply cheaper electricity and by introducing more modern production technology. What follows is a summary of the main steps taken in the electricity sector.

(a)Allocations for the Electricity Sector Investment Programme were increased in 2010 to YRI 256 billion, of which YRI 120 billion came from Government funding

(b)Administrative reforms and institutional development efforts were continued

114.The Electricity Act No. 1 of 2009 opened the way for private investment in this sector. The General Authority for Rural Electricity was established pursuant to Republican Decree No. 76 of 2009, and by Decisions Nos. 63 and 199 of 2009 the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the Higher Committee for Energy, which it placed under authority of the Prime Minister, and approved the National Strategy for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. By Decision No. 265 of 2009, the Cabinet approved plans for short-term, strategic energy generation and transmission projects for 2009–2012 and long-term projects for 2009–2025. Given that electricity projects need major funding that cannot be supplied by the Government, the plans allow for partnerships with the private sector to generate and purchase capacity in accordance with the principles and parameters stipulated in a study conducted by the International Finance Corporation.

(c)Efforts to increase electricity capacity and expand coverage were made, as follows

Boosting electricity capacity in the national grid

115.The Government’s programme is aimed at boosting electricity capacity by 635 MW. During the period, the measures taken by the Government increased electricity capacity by approximately 294 MW, meeting 46 per cent of the target. This result was due to a delay in start-up at the Ma’rib gas plant (M1), which has a capacity of 241 MW and began operating in early 2010.

116.Compound capacity increased from 1,221 MW in 2008 to 1,330 MW in 2009. Several operational and technical measures have been instituted to allow for the implementation of projects to strengthen the national grid by adding approximately 1,772 MW in the near future. These measures are described in brief here below.

The first phase of the Ma’rib gas plant 2, with a capacity of 400 MW, was completed.

A bidding process for Ma’rib emergency plant 3, with a capacity of 350 MW, was announced.

A bidding process for investment in a gas plant in Ma’rib, with a capacity of 222 MW under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) system, was announced.

The implementation of 91 per cent of Ma’rib/Sana`a transmission line projects, with a capacity of 400 KW, and of the conversion plants was completed.

Technical studies for a project at the Ma`bar and Bilhaf gas plants, with a capacity of 400 MW each, were completed. The Ministry of Oil and Ministry of Electricity are working together on an agreement to extend gas pipes to the plants and determine the value of the gas.

Strengthening distribution networks in main and secondary cities

117.The Government’s goal in this area is to strengthen the grid by adding 90 MW of levels of capacity, of which 5 MW in the city of Ataq and a total of 7 MW for power generation with different levels of capacity in several areas of rural Yemen. The remaining projects will be postponed until 2010, owing to the lack of funding and allocations in the 2009 investment budget.

(d)Develop and exploit renewable energy sources

118.One thousand solar panels were installed in different areas in 2008 and 2009.

(e)Promotion of investment in electric power

119.A unit for IPP investment projects was established at the Ministry of Electricity to manage investment in electric power and market strategic projects to the private sector in Yemen and abroad.

Roads

120.The Government continued to carry out road programmes and projects to reduce disparities between urban and rural areas. In 2009, some 1,235 km of roads were completed, meaning that 98 per cent of the target figure was met. By the end of the year, a total of 15,335 km of roads had been completed, 41 per cent of them side roads, 32 per cent secondary roads, 23 per cent main roads and 4 per cent international highways.

XIV.Water and sanitation

121.Addressing the water problem will be a key Government priority in the coming years. The Government is seeking urgent solutions to the problem of supplying new sources of drinking water and is conducting studies on strategic alternatives to address the issue. The approach being taken focuses on:

An integrated strategy for managing the water crisis in Yemen.

The need to consider the social, economic and health problems that water shortages could create for society and to weigh them against the cost of implementing urgent, strategic alternatives that would help deliver drinking water to the people.

The implementation of sanitation services projects and increasing coverage.

Intensification of negotiations with donors to secure funding to address water problems as a Government priority.

The construction of seawater desalination plants to provide drinking water and treat wastewater as urgent solutions to rationalizing the use of water from critical sources and in areas of pressing need, taking into account the feasibility of implementation in the governorates of Sana`a and Ta`izz; completing the infrastructure for replenishing groundwater, through the building of dams, water barrages and water harvesting facilities; using modern irrigation techniques and modernizing distribution networks and pipelines to rationalize water use for irrigation, agriculture and gardens.

122.In 2009, the Government took a series of measures to increase coverage in urban and rural areas and deal with water and sanitation problems, as described below.

Protection of water resources

In the central region of Soham Valley in the Tihama plain 7,750 wells were counted, bringing the total number of registered wells up to 36,000

A programme on water quality and sources of pollution in the central region in Soham Valley was established

A preliminary study evaluating water sources in the Dhimar basin was received and the evaluation was completed

Ten rainwater stations were erected in Socotra island, together with four measuring stations and four weather stations

Water quality in Soham Valley and Mur Valley in the Tihama plain was assessed

Studies to count the number of wells in Soham Valley and Jihanna Valley in central Tihama were continued

A water management plan for Hadramawt Valley was completed

A regulation was prepared for the Water Act

Several publications were produced for use in raising awareness of the importance of preserving water and of water sustainability

A draft decree prohibiting digging in the vicinity of water facilities was prepared

The National Water Strategy was designed and endorsed by the relevant ministerial committee

The Water Sector Support Programme was drawn up

Increased coverage of safe drinking water services

123.Several water projects were carried out in Sana`a City and the governorates, helping to increase access to safe drinking water in urban and rural areas. Steps were taken to simplify procedures, streamline services and create a database for the General Authority for Rural Water and its branches. Water projects were carried out in every governorate, helping to provide access to water in rural areas for 522,000 persons, and increasing the coverage rate to 47 per cent.

124.As for agricultural advice and regulation of irrigation, in 2009, approximately 381 guidance sessions were held for crop farmers, and modern irrigation equipment was distributed to farmers. Irrigation practices using floodwater, water harvesting and soil conservation techniques were improved. Twelve water facilities were completed and seven are awaiting implementation. Funding of YRI 376 million was provided for modern irrigation systems to be used for around 2,500 hectares of land.

125.Sixty-eight water projects costing YRI 4.1 billion in total were funded in 2009. The Agriculture and Fisheries Production Fund contributed YRI 4 billion. In addition, the Fund pledged to cover the costs of current projects, amounting to YRI 174.3.

126.The Fund supplies modern irrigation equipment and irrigation networks to farmers, covering 50 per cent of total costs. The aim is to rationalize water use in the agricultural sector, which accounts for almost 90 per cent of annual water consumption. The Fund contributed YRI 564.2 million in 2009 for the supply of modern irrigation networks.

XV.Internally displaced people and national and international responses

127.Following sporadic clashes between Houthi groups and the Yemeni Government in July 2009, the situation deteriorated in Sa`dah governorate, turning into an open conflict in what was the sixth round of hostilities since 2004. Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee the Sa`dah and Amran governorates, in addition to those who were left homeless following previous episodes of unrest. Many of the displaced were facing their second or third experience of displacement in the space of just a few years.

128.In February 2010, the hostilities ended with a ceasefire, although sporadic violence continued in the affected governorates. Beginning in July, approximately 342,000 internally displaced persons were registered. More than 800,000 persons suffered harm as an indirect result of the conflict, including host communities for the displaced and people deprived of access to basic services. The governorates of Sa`dah, Amran, Hajjah and Jawf were particularly affected by these hostilities. Only around 15 per cent of the internally displaced assembled in designated camps or informal settlements.

129.Returns of displaced persons have been limited, owing to widespread fear, concerns about protection and humanitarian issues at home and doubts about the ceasefire. Limited capacity and access and lack of coordination impede humanitarian aid activities, particularly those for displaced persons living in host communities and most of the displaced persons in Sa`dah. The limited response of the international community to fundraising appeals has also had a severe impact on the delivery of assistance to the internally displaced.

130.Since the sixth round of the conflict erupted, the Government has taken various positive measures, recognizing the importance of the displacement issue and the need to deal with it by, inter alia, establishing institutions to facilitate humanitarian cooperation and coordination. In August 2009, a high-level inter-ministerial committee was set up to guide aid operations. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Health and is complemented by an operational unit for the internally displaced. Ministries and other government institutions, such as the Social Fund to Combat Displacement, continue to take proactive measures, as dictated by their respective terms of reference. Initiatives were taken to register the displaced, with support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

131.The Yemeni Government has allowed humanitarian agencies wider access to parts of Sa`dah, Amran, Jawf and Sana`a, although access remains uneven and limited. In April 2010, the Government hosted the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights for Internally Displaced Persons, who had come to assess the situation and make recommendations on follow-up measures to be taken. Although the Government announced that registration of the internally displaced would cease as from March 2010, it again asked for assistance from humanitarian agencies to assess the situation of internally displaced persons in all the governorates. It decided that there was a need for a national strategy to combat internal displacement.

132.Humanitarian agencies worked with Government ministries to supply food and non-food items, temporary shelters, water, sanitation services, psychosocial support, education and medical assistance to internally displaced people, returnees and local communities adversely affected by the war. The World Food Programme (WFP) was given unlimited access to these groups in June 2010, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in April 2010, UNHCR in June 2010 and Médeçins Sans Frontières in October.

133.Medical teams were formed and proper medical and health services were delivered in internally displaced persons’ camps. Eleven mobile medical teams, consisting of 14 doctors, 39 nurses and technicians, 8 midwives and 18 health ancillaries worked in and around the camps in Hajjah governorate.

134.Two health centres for the displaced were set up at the Mazraq camps to provide various types of primary health care and a full range of treatment and diagnostic services, including a laboratory, prenatal and obstetrics clinics and treatment for malnutrition and various diseases. In addition, a malnutrition treatment unit was set up and four ambulances were supplied to transport camp inhabitants in need of more extensive care to Harad Hospital. Mobile medical teams were formed in the Khawyan camp and in the Jawf governorate and medical camps were set up to offer various treatment services. More than 235,745 people have used these services.

135.In order to eliminate the effects of the internal strife instigated by the Houthis, the Sa`dah Governorate Construction Fund continued in 2009 to pursue its planned reconstruction goals. An assessment was done of damage inflicted on public installations and private property in the districts of Sa`dah governorate, the district of Harf Safyan in Amran governorate and the Bani Hashish district of Sana`a governorate. A total of 10,996 public and private installations were assessed.

136.In early 2009, the Fund began implementing reconstruction and repairs programmes and compensating those damaged by the internal strife. For this, it used a clearly defined and transparent methodology and mechanism, drawing on a professional and technical team of specialists and experts and involving the local community and people from damaged areas. The work was done in stages, beginning with the inventory and ending with construction and renovation work. Despite the difficulties encountered by the Fund, much was achieved in 2009. The main achievements are described below.

Public installations

137.Thirty-three restoration and construction projects were carried out at schools, government buildings and health units, at a total cost of around YRI 366 million. Thirteen projects are under way. Work on 13 projects that were under way when the sixth war erupted is almost finished: 50–80 per cent of the work has been done, at a total cost of approximately YRI 233 million.

Private installations

138.For the reconstruction of private installations, homes and farms, the Fund used a transparent mechanism, assessing the damage and then awarding monetary compensation to the injured parties in five instalments, each amounting to 20 per cent of the total award. Using this mechanism, the Fund completed the restoration work and repairs on 1,355 homes and 23 farms. The total amount awarded in compensation for homes was YRI 979 million and for farms over YRI 34 million. The Fund paid out close to YRI 1.5 billion in compensation in 2009. An allocation of YRI 20 billion was included in the 2010 budget to cover reconstruction costs. A development plan for the affected governorates was designed and implemented, and the efficiency of local government structures was improved.

XVI.Illiteracy and education enrolment rates

139.In addition to the information already provided in the reports of Yemen on the rights of the child and on the elimination of discrimination against women, we have provided hereunder details on recent measures taken in the education sector. For information on education, reference may be made to the annexes to the present report.

Reducing illiteracy

140.As far as reducing illiteracy among women and girls is concerned, although tangible progress has been made in promoting education and eliminating illiteracy, major challenges remain in society at large and among women in particular. There are still 4,233,000 illiterates aged 10 years and over, accounting for 60 per cent of the total number in 2005 and 2006. According to the Family Budget Survey, the corresponding figure for males is estimated at 21.3 per cent. In rural areas, the illiteracy rate for females is 70 per cent, as against 25 per cent for males. According to figures provided by a literacy organization and the Central Statistical Organisation, 5,862 classes for females were run by literacy centres in 2007/08, as against 440 for males. The number of female students in basic and supplementary education was 146,096, as compared with 8,459 males. This clearly shows that the number of females enrolled in literacy programmes and adult education is high compared to the number of males, although still not enough illiterate females enrol and there are not enough financial and other resources to enhance the effectiveness of these activities among females and to establish a time frame for the complete eradication of illiteracy in Yemen, at least among young people.

141.The proportion of girls who enrolled in the first year of basic education in 2007/08 was 46.8 per cent, as compared to 53.2 per cent for males. Women enrolled in women’s training centres that teach life skills to help increase household income and curb poverty. In 2005/06, 5,725 women enrolled, as compared with 8,010 in 2007/08, a 40 per cent increase.

Evolution of admission and enrolment ratios in education

142.The number of students admitted to the first grade of basic education rose sharply – from 677,824 in the 2006 academic year to 754,215 in the 2009 academic year. The overall admission ratio consequently rose from 106.8 per cent to 113.8 per cent for both sexes. During the same period, the total admission rate for girls rose from 99.4 per cent to 108 per cent, while that for boys rose from 113.7 per cent to 119.1 per cent. This means that the gender gap narrowed at the admission stage. This result can be ascribed to policies supporting and promoting girls’ education, by exempting girls from paying school fees in grades 1–6, supplying them with food and school bags, and expanding the availability of classrooms and health facilities.

143.In basic education, the number of students increased from 3,971,853, with an enrolment ratio of 72.2 per cent in 2006, to 4,327,450 in 2009 – an enrolment ratio of 75.4 per cent. As for gender disparities, the male enrolment ratio rose from 81.7 per cent to 84.5 per cent, while the female enrolment ratio rose from 61.7 per cent to 65.7 per cent over the same period.

144.The number of students in secondary education rose from 790,525 in 2006, with a ratio of 33.8 per cent, to 580,529 in 2009, or 36.9 per cent. The total enrolment ratio among males was 46.6 per cent, as compared with 26.9 per cent for females. Thus, the number of females per 100 males at the enrolment stage in secondary education rose from 49 in 2006 to 55 in 2009, a six-point increase.

145.In all stages of general education, there was a marked evolution in 2006–2009. The figures in the table show that the number of students in general education rose from 4,497,643 in 2006 to 4,908,279 in 2009, an increase of 410,636. This increase is due to more students enrolling in basic education (86.6 per cent) and secondary education (13.4 per cent of the total increase in general education).

146.With regard to the disparity in admission rates between governorates, the highest rate was achieved in Sana`a City, at 92 per cent, followed by Mahrah governorate with 85 per cent and Aden with 82 per cent. The figures were lower in the remaining governorates. This can be ascribed to the availability of supplementary education services, increasing awareness and a relative improvement in living standards in the governorates.

Evolution in the number of students, schools and teachers in general education in urban and rural areas of Yemen

	2005/06	2007/08	2008/09
Item	Urban area	Rural area	Total	Urban area	Rural area	Total	Urban area	Rural area	Total
Number of students in basic education	1 163 954	2 807 899	3 971 853	1 231 638	2 958 043	4 189 681	1 278 992	3 048 458	4 327 450
Percentage of girls	46.1	38.1	40.5	46.7	40.1	42.0	46.6	40.4	42.3
Number of students in secondary education	247 277	278 513	525 790	257 821	303 086	560 907	268 018	312 811	580 829
Percentage of girls	41.3	25.4	32.9	42.8	27.6	34.6	42.8	29.3	35.6
Total number of students	1 411 231	3 086 412	4 497 643	1 489 459	3 261 129	4 750 588	1 547 010	3 361 269	3 908 279
Number of teachers	Male	28 933	117 044	145 977	29 509	115 996	145 505	31 202	119 950	151 152
Female	31 941	11 630	43 571	33 759	12 198	45 957	38 358	13 517	51 875
Total	60 874	128 674	189 548	63 268	128 194	191 462	69 560	133 467	203 027
Percentage of females	52.5	9.0	23.0	53.4	9.5	24.0	55.1	10.1	25.6
Number of schools	Basic	1 106	10 379	11 485	1 165	10 437	11 602	1 238	10 578	11 816
Basic/ secondary	607	2 560	3 167	637	2 728	3 365	687	2 837	3 524
Secondary	164	159	323	157	166	323	161	160	321
Total	1 877	13 098	14 975	1 959	13 331	15 290	2 086	13 575	15 661

Sourc e: Ministry of Education, Comprehensive Education Survey reports, various numbers.

Annexes

Table 1

Students with disabilities enrolled in general education, by type of disability and sex, 2007/08 academic year

Stage	Basic	Secondary	Total
Categories of disability	Sex	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total
Profoundly deaf	Male	657	805	1 462	28	16	44	685	821	1 506
	Female	374	332	706	66	2	68	440	334	774
	Total	1 031	1 137	2 168	94	18	112	1 125	1 155	2 280
Hearing impaired	Male	1 055	3 529	4 584	137	236	373	1 192	3 765	4 957
	Female	924	1 860	2 784	113	106	219	1 037	1 966	3 003
	Total	1 979	5 389	7 368	250	342	592	2 229	5 731	7 960
Blind	Male	225	142	367	46	6	52	271	148	419
	Female	141	57	198	19	0	19	160	57	217
	Total	366	199	565	65	6	71	431	205	636
Visually impaired	Male	1 535	2 871	4 406	320	302	622	1 855	3 173	5 028
	Female	1 790	1 614	3 404	472	180	652	2 262	1 794	4 056
	Total	3 325	4 485	7 810	792	482	1 274	4 117	4 967	9 084
Mentally impaired	Male	284	1 363	1 647	10	47	57	294	1 410	1 704
	Female	270	572	842	10	22	32	280	594	874
	Total	554		554			0	554	0	554
Motor impaired	Male	445	1 074	1 519	82	129	211	527	1 203	1 730
	Female	227	402	629	31	41	72	258	443	701
	Total	672	1 476	2 148	113	170	283	785	1 646	2 431
Down’s syndrome	Male	14	92	106	2	2	4	16	94	110
	Female	17	29	46	0	0	0	17	29	46
	Total	31	121	152	2	2	4	33	123	156
Autism	Male	121	104	225	1	13	14	122	117	239
	Female	9	75	84	1	2	3	10	77	87
	Total	130	179	309	2	15	17	132	194	326
Health problems	Male	651	2 317	2 968	114	190	304	765	2 507	3 272
	Female	705	1 476	2 181	182	94	276	887	1 570	2 457
	Total	1 356	3 793	5 149	296	284	580	1 652	4 077	5 729
Learning difficulties	Male	1 271	4 970	6 241	133	390	523	1 404	5 360	6 764
	Female	1 329	2 657	3 986	121	145	266	1 450	2 802	4 252
	Total	2 600	7 627	10 227	254	535	789	2 854	8 162	11 016
Speech disorders	Male	899	2 641	3 540	58	101	159	957	2 742	3 699
	Female	412	1 019	1 431	19	32	51	431	1 051	1 482
	Total	1 311	3 660	4 971	77	133	210	1 388	3 793	5 181
Behavioural disorders	Male	384	1 520	1 904	96	227	323	480	1 747	2 227
	Female	273	509	782	8	46	54	281	555	836
	Total	657	2 029	2 686	104	273	377	761	2 302	3 063
Total	Male	7 541	21 428	28 969	1 027	1 659	2 686	8 568	23 087	31 655
	Female	6 471	10 602	17 073	1 042	670	1 712	7 513	11 272	18 785
	Total	14 012	32 030	46 042	2 069	2 329	4 398	16 081	34 359	50 440

Table 2

School workforce numbers , by area (urban/rural) and sex (2001/02–2008/09)

Year	Area	Sex	Teachers	Total workforce
2001/02	Urban	Male	28 173	35 795
		Female	26 460	31 715
		Total	54 633	67 510
	Rural	Male	106 584	126 719
		Female	9 211	10 002
		Total	115 795	136 721
2002/03	Urban	Male	27 861	35 662
		Female	26 915	32 729
		Total	54 776	68 391
	Rural	Male	107 510	127 397
		Female	9 110	9 894
		Total	116 620	137 291
2003/04	Urban	Male	27 153	35 278
		Female	27 892	34 391
		Total	55 045	69 669
	Rural	Male	109 394	129 524
		Female	9 829	10 687
		Total	119 223	140 211
2004/05	Urban	Male	26 854	35 322
		Female	28 876	35 808
		Total	55 730	71 130
	Rural	Male	110 790	132 963
		Female	10 452	11 406
		Total	121 242	144 369
2005/06	Urban	Male	28 997	38 060
		Female	32 121	39 230
		Total	61 118	77 290
	Rural	Male	117 044	140 284
		Female	11 630	12 629
		Total	128 674	152 913
2007/08	Urban	Male	29 509	37 270
		Female	33 759	40 100
		Total	63 268	77 370
	Rural	Male	115 996	135 496
		Female	12 198	12 950
		Total	128 194	148 446
2008/09	Urban	Male	31 180	39 745
		Female	38 344	45 832
		Total	69 524	77 370
	Rural	Male	119 972	140 429
		Female	13 531	14 344
		Total	133 503	148 446

Table 2b

School workforce numbers (2001/02–2008/09)

Year	Sex	Head	Deputy head	Secretary	Supervisor	Laboratory/ workshop supervisor	Stores supervisor	Librarian	Social worker	Teacher	Guard	Ancillary worker	Not specified	Total workforce	Percentage who are teachers	Female/male ratio
2001/02	Male	9 662	7 293	1 976	1 977	451	697	609	660	134 757	2 623	1 809	0	162 514	82.9	26:47
	Female	575	1 203	889	563	318	120	324	620	35 671	50	1 384	0	41 717	85.5
Total	10 237	8 496	2 865	2 540	769	817	933	1 280	170 428	2 673	3 193	0	204 231	83.4
2002/03	Male	9 572	7 155	2 034	1 938	485	790	631	838	135 371	2 537	1 708	0	163 059	83.0	26:61
	Female	606	1 301	971	673	351	172	388	726	36 025	36	1 374	0	42 623	84.5
Total	10 178	8 456	3 005	2 611	836	962	1 019	1 564	171 396	2 573	3 082	0	205 682	83.3
2003/04	Male	9 512	6 902	2 180	2 203	511	859	679	1 189	136 547	2 552	1 668	0	164 802	82.9	27:62
	Female	640	1 431	1 082	857	398	207	462	844	37 721	44	1 392	0	45 078	83.7
Total	10 152	8 333	3 262	3 060	909	1 066	1 141	2 033	174 268	2 596	3 060	0	209 880	83.0
2004/05	Male	10 170	7 451	2 310	2 296	543	1 003	701	1 830	137 644	2 667	1 670	0	168 285	81.8	28:57
	Female	703	1 526	1 221	905	434	240	481	958	39 328	46	1 372	0	47 214	83.3
Total	10 873	8 977	3 531	3 201	977	1 243	1 182	2 788	176 972	2 713	3 042	0	215 499	82.1
2005/06	Male	11 183	8 104	2 374	2 047	447	890	745	1 454	146 041	3 215	1 844	0	178 344	81.9	29:96
	Female	809	1 616	1 350	925	399	21 5	448	861	43 751	54	1 431	0	51 859	84.4
Total	11 992	9 720	3 724	2 972	846	1 105	1 193	2 315	189 792	3 269	3 275	0	230 203	82.4
2007/08	Male	10 941	5 401	2 181	1 351	450	723	762	1 486	145 505	2 578	1 388	0	172 766	84.2	31:58
	Female	852	1 403	1 066	610	376	171	480	901	45 957	31	1 203	0	53 050	86.6
Total	11 793	6 804	3 247	1 961	826	894	1 242	2 387	191 462	2 609	2 591	0	225 816	84.8
2008/09	Male	22 227	11 504	4 401	2 950	1 134	1 446	1 792	4 056	322 999	4 343	3 811	116	380 779	84.8	46:80
	Female	11 263	5 776	2 148	1 504	507	821	839	1 782	151 152	2 799	1 529	54	180 174
Total	23 188	13 031	5 617	3 808	1 563	1 645	2 313	5 103	374 874	4 389	5 288	136	440 955

Table 10

School projects, by classroom, wall and administrative building works and costs (2001/02–2008/09)

Academic year	No. of projects	Classrooms	Expansion	Restoration	Repair	Cost	Walls	Cost	Administrative buildings and housing	Cost	Bathrooms	Teachers’ accommodation	Other rooms	Total cost (thousands of Yemeni rials)
2001/02	756	3 368	171	225	701	9 667 129	16	108 676	6	282 693	409			10 058 498
2002/03	1 064	5 684			694	14 640 145	98	714 211	1	18 729				15 373 085
2003/04	632	3 494			190	10 389 590	13	239 883	3	108 626				10 738 099
2004/05	1 273	6 695			1 061	15 993 717	72	783 603	28	502 308				17 279 628
2005/06	1 340	4 591	633	1 030	805		320		4		1 255			15 762 996
2006/07	3 173						1 176		25		5 174	210	910	35 519 381
2007/08	1 224	5 035	600	226	1 067		493				1 973		660	28 269 515
2008/09
Total	9 462	28 867	1 404	1 481	4 518	50 690 581	2 188	1 846 373	67	912 356	8 811	210	1 570	133 001 202

Table 11a Key data on school buildings, by type (2001/02–2008/09)

	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2007/08	2008/09
Description	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage
Total buildings	13 070		13 335		13 558		14 003		14 555		14 953		15 320
Existing	11 931	91%	12 217	92%	12 528	92%	13 023	93%	12 579	86%	14 184	95%	14 550	95%
Temporary	538	4%	531	4%	509	4%	478	3%	475	3%	318	2%	279	2%
Existing and temporary	12 469	95%	12 748	96%	13 037	96%	13 511	96%	14 054	97%	14 502	97%	14 829	97%
Purpose built	11 209	86%	11 474	86%	11 803	87%	12 215	87%	12 670	87%	13 391	90%	13 685	89%
No building (makeshift)	601	5%	587	4%	521	4%	492	4%	490	3%	451	3%	491	3%

Table 11b Number of school buildings, by type and area (rural – urban), 2001/02–2008/09

Description	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2007/08	2008/09
Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total
Total buildings
	1 446	11 624	13 070	1 500	11 835	13 335	1 558	12 000	13 558	1 652	12 351	14 003	1 770	12 774	14 544	1 880	13 073	14 953	2 001	13 319	15 320
Existing
	1 421	10 510	11 931	1 474	10 743	12 217	1 531	10 997	12 528	1 633	11 400	13 033	1 753	11 826	13 579	1 864	12 320	14 184	1 987	12 563	14 550
School building
	1 183	10 026	11 209	1 216	10 258	11 474	1 253	10 550	11 803	1 279	10 936	12 215	1 336	11 334	12 670	1 437	11 954	13 391	1 494	12 191	13 685
House
	122	398	520	127	402	529	138	369	507	166	377	543	177	397	574	151	220	371	175	219	394
Building
	97	54	151	114	54	168	125	51	176	173	62	235	221	66	287	255	117	372	295	126	421
Apartment
	19	32	51	17	29	46	15	27	42	15	25	40	19	29	48	21	24	45	23	27	50
Temporary
	11	527	538	11	520	531	9	500	509	9	469	478	8	467	475	6	312	318	7	262	269
Container
	5	215	220	5	188	193	3	165	168	2	143	145	2	133	135	3	65	68	4	6	10
Tent
	1	55	56	1	58	59	1	63	64	1	60	61	2	60	62	2	33	35	2	33	35
Hut
	5	257	262	5	274	279	5	272	277	6	266	272	4	274	278	1	214	215	1	179	180
Total buildings (existing and temporary)
	1 432	11 037	12 469	1 485	11 263	12 748	1 540	11 497	13 037	1 642	11 869	13 511	1 761	12 293	14 054	1 870	12 632	14 502	1 994	12 935	14 929
Makeshift structures (no building)
	14	587	601	15	572	587	18	503	521	10	482	492	9	481	490	10	441	451	7	484	491

Table 12 General education schools, by stage and number of boys and girls, 2001/02–2008/09

	Basic only	Basic/secondary	Secondary	Total
Academic year	Boys	Girls	Co-educational	Total	Boys	Girls	Co-educational	Total	Boys	Girls	Co-educational	Total	Boys	Girls	Co-educational	Total
2001/02	1 108	484	8 323	9 915	394	306	2 598	3 298	105	30	129	264	1 607	820	11 050	13 477
2002/03	1 029	536	8 728	10 293	300	285	2 570	3 155	122	38	133	293	1 451	859	11 431	13 741
2003/04	906	554	9 224	10 684	293	292	2 384	2 969	120	40	140	300	1 319	886	11 748	13 953
2004/05	831	582	9 632	11 045	283	301	2 474	3 058	122	43	142	307	1 236	926	12 248	14 410
2005/06	818	617	10 050	11 485	293	322	2 552	3 167	126	46	151	323	1 237	985	12 753	14 975
2007/08	688	595	10 319	11 602	332	350	2 683	3 365	126	47	150	323	1 146	992	13 152	15 290
2008/09	689	599	10 528	11 816	344	397	2 783	3 524	127	44	150	321	1 160	1 040	13 461	15 661
Rate of increase	-0.38	0.24	0.26	0.19	-0.13	0.30	0.07	0.07	0.21	0.47	0.16	0.22	-0.28	0.27	0.22	0.16
Average annual increase	-0.05	0.03	0.03	0.02	-0.02	0.04	0.01	0.01	0.03	0.06	0.02	0.03	-0.03	0.03	0.03	0.02

Table 15 Persons enrolled in literacy programmes and adult education, by stage and sex, 2001/02–2007/08

Academic year	No. of centres	No. of classes	Status	Basic stage	Follow-up stage	Total
Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
2001/02	1 889	4 001	Enrolled	11 771	61 908	73 679	1 518	9 244	10 762	13 289	71 152	84 441
	Emancipated from illiteracy	5 763	38 643	44 406	865	5 980	6 845	6 628	44 623	51 251
2002/03	1 923	4 488	Enrolled	13 646	72 422	86 068	1 810	12 411	14 221	15 456	84 833	100 289
	Emancipated from illiteracy	4 790	40 316	45 106	1 136	7 845	8 981	5 926	48 161	54 087
2003/04	2 061	5 000	Enrolled	13 993	70 905	84 898	1 324	15 989	17 313	15 317	86 894	102 211
	Emancipated from illiteracy	4 892	53 798	58 690	884	10 436	1 132	5 776	64 234	59 822
2004/05	2 164	5 251	Enrolled	14 853	93 095	107 948	1 360	16 814	16 213	16 213	109 909	124 161
	Emancipated from illiteracy	5 063	63 303	68 366	764	12 502	13 266	5 827	75 805	81 632
2005/06	2 948	5 875	Enrolled	8 909	86 193	95 102	1 469	21 617	23 086	10 378	107 810	118 188
	Emancipated from illiteracy	4 680	63 163	67 843	998	13 173	14 171	5 678	76 336	82 0 14
2006/07	3 344	6 302	Enrolled	6 923	90 537	97 460	1 713	20 914	22 627	8 636	111 451	120 087
	Emancipated from illiteracy	3 804	59 353	63 157	653	10 738	11 391	4 457	70 091	74 548
2007/08	3 356	7 140	Enrolled	7 168	123 002	130 170	1 291	23 094	24 385	8 459	146 096	154 555
			Emancipated from illiteracy	4 795	102 501	107 476	789	15 218	16 007	5 764	117 719	123 483

Table 15

Enrolment in basic training for girls, 2001/02–2007/08

Academic year	Women’s skills
Dressmaking	Knitting	Printing	Embroidery	Handicrafts	Home management	Other	Total
2001/02	2 598	238	169	860	693	507	240	5 305
2002/03	3 906	355	278	875	1 044	899	110	7 467
2003/04	3 608	1 089	329	419	1 132	1 098	464	8 139
2004/05	3 286	616	77	576	1 113	1 086	839	7 593
2005/06	1 972	617	211	859	777	582	707	5 725
2006/07	2 516	865	145	1 148	1 425	991	757	7 847
2007/08	3 755	926	277	1 729	1 455	838	2 254	11 234

Academic year	Basic skills	All skills
Cars	Electricity	Smithing and butcher’s work	Furniture making	Turnery	Printing	Agriculture	Founder’s trade and activity	Construction	Other	Total
2001/02	300	68	159	43	240	0	29	2	0	171	1 102	6 317
2002/03	181	231	60	153	21	213	20	38	0	99	1 016	8 483
2003/04	192	184	138	156	61	80	60	39	0	46	956	9 095
2004/05	238	246	149	137	40	0	44	18	9	90	971	8 564
2005/06	124	138	42	73	0	0	16	0	0	40	433	6 158
2006/07	146	148	36	92	16	0	0	20	0	138	596	8 443
2007/08	255	255	86	229	12	293	140	20	0	264	1 554	12 788

Table 16

Persons employed in literacy and adult education centres, by function, 2001/02–2007/08

Description	Administrators and ancillary staff	Teachers	Supervisors	Instructors	Total number of persons employed in literacy work
Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
2001/02	797	253	1 050	829	3 487	4 316	260	161	421	220	139	359	1 789	4 087	5 876
2002/03	825	198	1 023	930	3 973	4 903	307	190	497	281	97	378	2 106	4 547	6 653
2003/04	921	239	1 160	1 036	4 516	5 552	333	210	543	327	132	459	2 356	5 200	7 556
2004/05	981	191	1 172	860	4 976	5 836	460	327	787	415	157	572	2 610	5 944	8 554
2005/06	1 000	234	1 238	940	5 324	6 264	318	292	610	384	149	533	2 344	6 206	8 550
2006/07	855	100	955	780	5 166	1 176	6 562	7 204	11 886	6 556	928	6 848	2 054	6 082	3 238
2007/08	1 006	275	1 281	683	6 457	7 140	333	337	670	358	130	488	2 065	7 391	9 456

Table 27

Failure, drop out and promotion rates, by basic stage, 2001/02–2008/09

Indicator	2001/02	2002/03	2003/05	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Average failure rates
Failure rate 1–9 (males and females)	7.5%	7.1%	7.1%	9.3%	13.3%	9.3%	10.6%	9.4%
Failure rate 1–9 (males)	6.8%	6.6%	6.3%	8.8%	12.4%	8.8%	9.8%	8.2%
Failure rate 1–9 (females)	8.8%	7.6%	8.2%	10.3%	14.6%	9.9%	11.6%	11.2%
Average drop-out rates
Drop-out rate 1–9 (males and females)	4.7%	4.6%	5.8%	5.3%	8.1%	8.2%	5.8%	7.0%
Drop-out rate 1–9 (males)	5.1%	5.1%	6.3%	5.8%	9.0%	9.1%	6.4%	7.8%
Drop-out rate 1–9 (females)	3.9%	3.8%	4.9%	4.4%	6.5%	6.7%	4.8%	5.8%
Average promotion rates
Promotion rate 1–9 (males and females)	87.8%	88.3%	87.1%	85.3%	78.6%	82.5%	83.6%	83.6%
Promotion rate 1–9 (males)	88.2%	88.3%	87.3%	85.4%	78.6%	82.1%	83.8%	84.0%
Promotion rate 1–9 (females)	87.3%	88.6%	86.9%	85.2%	78.9%	83.4%	83.6%	83.0%

Table 28

Completion rates, by stage, grade and sex, 2001/02–2008/09

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/ 04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Completion rate by grade, stage and sex
Grade 5 (males and females)	75.3%	75.9%	73.1%	66.2%	52.4%	69.4%	63.7%	70.7%
Grade 5 (males)	79.4%	79.6%	77.4%	67.0%	53.9%	71.2%	67.7%	75.8%
Grade 5 (females)	69.3%	70.7%	67.1%	64.7%	50.2%	67.0%	59.0%	64.7%
Grade 6 (males and females)	59.9%	60.7%	56.5%	49.2%	36.6%	52.3%	47.8%	53.3%
Grade 6 (males)	63.8%	64.3%	60.6%	50.8%	38.8%	54.7%	52.1%	58.8%
Grade 6 (females)	54.1%	55.6%	50.9%	46.4%	33.2%	49.1%	42.4%	46.8%
Grade 9 (males and females)	44.9%	47.7%	45.7%	36.5%	21.9%	34.4%	31.8%	35.0%
Grade 9 (males)	47.9%	49.4%	48.7%	38.2%	23.2%	35.1%	34.0%	39.1%
Grade 9 (females)	40.4%	45.9%	41.8%	33.9%	20.1%	33.9%	29.4%	30.1%

Table 29

Attendance rates, by stage, grade and sex, 2001/02–2008/09

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Attendance
Up to grade 6 (males and females)	69.2%	70.1%	67.2%	59.4%	46.2%	63.1%	57.2%	64.1%
Up to grade 6 (males)	73.3%	74.0%	72.1%	61.0%	48.3%	65.2%	61.7%	70.2%
Up to grade 6 (females)	63.3%	64.4%	60.3%	56.8%	43.0%	60.5%	51.8%	57.0%
Up to grade 9 (males and females)	31.9%	33.5%	28.7%	20.9%	11.5%	24.5%	19.8%	25.5%
Up to grade 9 (males)	36.8%	37.5%	33.3%	22.8%	13.4%	27.0%	23.8%	31.6%
Up to grade 9 (females)	25.1%	28.1%	22.9%	17.8%	8.9%	21.3%	15.3%	19.1%

Table 30

Pass rates, by sex, 2001/02–2008/09

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Pass rates
Males and females	60.8%	63.3%	64.0%	55.5%	39.9%	50.3%	48.9%	49.6%
Males	62.5%	63.5%	65.6%	57.6%	41.7%	50.5%	50.0%	52.6%
Females	57.6%	63.8%	61.4%	51.9%	37.2%	50.2%	47.7%	45.3%

Table 31

Failure, dropout and promotion rates in secondary education, 2001/02–2008/09

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Failure rates
10–12 (males and females)	11.2%	4.3%	4.8%	14.4%	20.1%	5.5%	4.2%	6.1%
10–12 (males)	12.1%	6.9%	4.7%	10.4%	14.9%	6.3%	4.5%	7.5%
10–12 (females)	3.3%	5.1%	3.4%	7.7%	10.0%	3.2%	3.7%	3.1%
Dropout rates
10–12 (males and females)	4.8%	3.9%	5.1%	5.4%	7.4%	8.4%	6.4%	8.1%
10–12 (males)	5.4%	4.2%	5.6%	5.8%	8.1%	9.3%	6.8%	8.8%
10–12 (females)	3.2%	3.0%	3.9%	4.4%	6.0%	6.7%	5.5%	6.6%
Promotion rates
10–12 (males and females)	92.3%	91.9%	91.7%	85.0%	79.2%	87.9%	89.5%	90.1%
10–12 (males)	91.9%	91.2%	91.2%	83.7%	77.1%	86.9%	88.7%	87.1%
10–12 (females)	93.5%	93.6%	92.7%	87.9%	84.0%	90.1%	90.9%	95.8%

Table 32

Completion rates, by grade, stage and sex, 2001/02–2008/09

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Grade 3 secondary (males and females)	40.0%	41.0%	40.8%	26.0%	13.2%	29.6%	26.9%	31.5%
Grade 3 secondary (males)	42.7%	42.0%	43.7%	26.3%	13.1%	30.0%	28.5%	32.2%
Grade 3 secondary (females)	36.1%	40.7%	37.1%	25.8%	13.9%	29.8%	25.5%	31.1%

Table 33

Attendance and pass rates in secondary education, 2001 /02–2008/09

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Attendance rate
Up to grade 3 secondary (males and females)	19.3%	20.6%	20.3%	10.2%	3.2%	11.5%	9.3%	12.4%
Up to grade 3 secondary (males)	22.2%	22.0%	23.4%	10.9%	3.5%	12.1%	10.6%	14.4%
Up to grade 3 secondary (females)	15.3%	19.5%	16.5%	9.3%	3.0%	11.0%	8.1%	10.3%

Indicators	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Pass rate
Males and females	61.3%	61.0%	63.5%	45.7%	29.2%	50.6%	48.8%	53.0%
Males	62.8%	60.4%	64.9%	45.7%	28.5%	50.3%	49.2%	51.5%
Females	58.2%	63.2%	61.2%	46.2%	31.4%	51.5%	48.7%	55.4%

Table 38

Sports activities carried out from 2001/02 – 2006/07, by type of activity and sex

		Football	Athletics	Volleyball	Table tennis	Chess	Total	Total
Year	Sex	Basic	Secondary	Basic	Secondary	Basic	Secondary	Basic	Secondary	Basic	Secondary	Basic	Secondary
2001	M	250	250	200	-	-	180	-	-	-	-	450	430	880
F	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2002	M	250	-	-	220	-	250	-	150	-	-	250	620	870
F	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2003	M	350	250	200	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	550	250	950
F	-	-	-	-	First Secondary School Girls’ Games (volleyball–tennis–chess–table tennis)	-	150
2004	M	350	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	350	-	1 070
F	-	250	-	200	Second Secondary School Girls’ Games (volleyball–tennis–chess–table tennis) (270)	-	720
2005	M	-	250	-	220	-	200	-	-	-	-	-	670	850
F	-	-	-	-	Third Secondary School Girls’ Games (volleyball–tennis–chess–table tennis)	-	180
2006	M	380	-	220	-	-	-	180	-	150	-	930	-	1 100
F	-	-	-	-	Fourth Secondary School Girls’ Games (volleyball–tennis–chess–table tennis)	-	170
2007	M	-	450	-	-	-	150	-	-	-	-	-	600	950
F	-	-	-	-	Fifth Secondary School Girls’ Games (volleyball–tennis–chess–table tennis) (350)	-	350
Total	M	1 580	1 200	620	440	-	780	180	150	150	-	2 530	2 570	5 100
F	-	250	-	200	-	-	-	120	-	-	-	1 570	1 570
Total	1 580	1 450	620	640	-	780	180	270	150	-	2 530	4 140	6 670

Table 39

Participation in sports events abroad and rankings achieved by Yemen (2001/02–2007/08)

Item	Activity	Year	Host country	Games	No. of countries	Rankings achieved by Yemen
1	First Arab Basketball Championship	2000	Lebanon	Basketball	11	Seventh
2	First Arab Handball Championship	2001	Jordan	Handball	-	Three bronze medals
3	Second Arab School Football Championship	2001	Lebanon	Football	9	Sixth
4	Fourteenth Arab School Games	2002	Lebanon	Athletics and football	13	Third in football and bronze medal in athletics
5	First Arab School Volleyball Championship	2003	United Arab Emirates	Volleyball	12	Fifth
6	Fifteenth Arab School Games	2004	Saudi Arabia	Football and table tennis	15	Fourth
7	First Gulf School Championship for Girls	2006	Bahrain	Table tennis	7	Fourth
8	Third Arab School Football Championship	2007	Yemen	Football	13	First

Table 7

Number of students in basic education, by grade and sex (2001/02–2008/09)

Academic year	Sex	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8	Grade 9
2001/02	Male	364 080	307 259	282 332	268 793	253 607	227 573	207 998	175 345	170 891
	Female	269 597	215 445	191 340	158 322	135 611	109 412	90 565	75 760	68 335
	Total	633 677	522 704	473 672	427 115	389 218	336 985	298 563	251 105	239 226
2002/03	Male	386 078	326 346	298 232	276 651	254 822	233 718	208 804	184 651	168 659
	Female	290 380	236 168	203 284	178 490	144 163	122 071	97 488	82 754	72 410
	Total	676 458	562 514	501 516	455 141	398 985	355 789	306 292	267 405	241 069
2003/04	Male	405 576	345 897	314 845	289 556	260 406	234 267	210 198	184 708	179 992
	Female	309 510	252 811	220 172	187 554	159 014	128 193	107 431	87 299	78 322
	Total	715 086	598 708	535 017	477 110	419 420	362 460	317 629	272 007	258 314
2004/05	Male	416 893	342 330	318 188	300 637	267 387	234 811	208 587	180 784	180 655
	Female	334 683	270 593	228 441	200 955	166 638	137 998	109 122	92 703	80 889
	Total	751 576	612 923	546 629	501 592	434 025	372 809	317 709	273 487	261 544
2005/06	Male	371 105	321 533	308 842	295 176	269 324	235 755	209 383	177 037	175 919
	Female	306 719	263 368	236 402	201 109	170 994	140 039	113 175	91 220	84 753
	Total	677 824	584 901	545 244	496 285	440 318	375 794	322 558	268 257	260 672
2007/08	Male	390 359	334 085	306 367	303 945	272 483	242 811	220 033	185 561	173 365
	Female	335 082	283 922	241 254	224 143	191 614	156 392	128 814	106 728	92 723
	Total	725 441	618 007	547 621	528 088	464 097	399 203	348 847	292 289	266 088
2008/09	Male	409 878	339 341	326 329	304 632	277 607	248 465	222 160	190 887	179 376
	Female	344 337	284 641	263 978	225 774	195 336	166 376	135 140	113 587	99 606
	Total	754 215	623 982	590 307	530 406	472 943	414 841	357 300	304 474	278 982

Table 9

Number of students in basic education, by grade, sex and area (urban-rural), 2001/02–2008/09

Academic year	Area	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4
Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
2001/02	Urban	78 473	73 508	151 981	70 122	65 577	135 699	68 766	64 046	132 812	69 901	60 332	130 233
	Rural	285 607	196 089	481 696	237 137	149 868	387 005	213 566	127 294	340 860	198 892	97 990	296 882
	Total	364 080	269 597	633 677	307 259	215 445	522 704	282 332	191 340	473 672	268 793	158 322	427 115
2002/03	Urban	83 085	77 986	161 071	73 631	69 253	142 884	70 485	64 823	135 308	69 308	63 760	133 068
	Rural	302 993	212 394	515 387	252 715	166 915	419 630	227 747	138 461	366 208	207 343	114 730	322 073
	Total	386 078	290 380	676 458	326 346	236 168	562 514	298 232	203 284	501 516	276 651	178 490	455 141
2003/04	Urban	88 304	80 742	169 046	78 239	73 096	151 335	73 944	68 980	142 924	71 096	64 569	135 665
	Rural	317 272	228 768	546 040	267 658	179 715	447 373	240 901	151 192	392 093	218 460	122 985	341 445
	Total	405 576	309 510	715 086	345 897	252 811	598 708	314 845	220 172	535 017	289 556	187 554	477 110
2004/05	Urban	87 885	82 033	169 918	78 183	71 857	150 040	77 193	70 630	147 823	75 850	67 862	143 712
	Rural	329 008	252 650	581 658	264 147	198 736	462 883	240 995	157 811	398 806	224 787	133 093	357 880
	Total	416 893	334 683	751 576	342 330	270 593	612 923	318 188	228 441	546 629	300 637	200 955	501 592
2005/06	Urban	81 019	76 669	157 688	75 503	70 489	145 992	76 987	68 400	145 387	77 130	66 416	143 546
	Rural	290 086	230 050	520 136	246 030	192 879	438 909	231 855	168 002	399 857	218 046	134 693	352 739
	Total	371 105	306 719	677 824	321 533	263 368	584 901	308 842	236 402	545 244	295 176	201 109	496 285
2007/08	Urban	88 537	83 673	172 210	80 550	77 027	157 577	75 950	71 133	147 083	80 934	69 956	150 890
	Rural	301 822	251 409	553 231	253 535	206 895	460 430	230 417	170 121	400 538	223 011	154 187	377 198
	Total	390 359	335 082	725 441	334 085	283 922	618 007	306 367	241 254	547 621	303 945	224 143	528 088
2008/09	Urban	90 750	85 469	176 219	85 043	79 347	164 390	83 373	76 816	160 189	81 000	71 486	152 486
	Rural	319 128	258 868	577 996	254 298	205 294	459 592	242 956	187 162	430 118	223 632	154 288	377 920
	Total	409 878	344 337	754 215	339 341	284 641	623 982	326 329	263 978	590 307	304 632	225 774	530 406

Table 9

Number of students in basic education, by grade, sex and area (urban-rural), 2001/02–2008/09

Academic year	Area	Grade 5	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8	Grade 9
Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
2001/02	Urban	67 879	56 424	124 303	63 395	50 540	113 935	63 969	47 677	111 646	55 725	42 398	98 123	54 873	38 787	93 660
	Rural	185 728	79 187	264 915	164 178	58 872	223 050	144 029	42 888	186 917	119 620	33 362	152 982	116 018	29 548	145 566
	Total	253 607	135 611	389 218	227 573	109 412	336 985	207 998	90 565	298 563	175 345	75 760	251 105	170 891	68 335	239 226
2002/03	Urban	67 475	57 815	125 290	63 079	52 780	115 859	62 874	48 687	111 561	58 081	45 023	103 104	53 852	39 718	93 570
	Rural	187 347	86 348	273 695	170 639	69 291	239 930	145 930	48 801	194 731	126 570	37 731	164 301	114 807	32 692	147 499
	Total	254 822	144 163	398 985	233 718	122 071	355 789	208 804	97 488	306 292	184 651	82 754	267 405	168 659	72 410	241 069
2003/04	Urban	68 423	60 436	128 859	63 620	54 048	117 668	62 624	51 758	114 382	58 482	46 198	104 680	56 606	42 175	98 781
	Rural	191 983	98 578	290 561	170 647	74 145	244 792	147 574	55 673	203 247	126 226	41 101	167 327	123 386	36 147	159 533
	Total	260 406	159 014	419 420	234 267	128 193	362 460	210 198	107 431	317 629	184 708	87 299	272 007	179 992	78 322	258 314
2004/05	Urban	70 165	62 251	132 416	65 467	55 663	121 130	63 608	51 134	114 742	58 243	46 517	104 760	57 548	41 662	99 210
	Rural	197 222	104 387	301 609	169 344	82 335	251 679	144 979	57 988	202 967	122 541	46 186	168 727	123 107	39 227	162 334
	Total	267 387	166 638	434 025	234 811	137 998	372 809	208 587	109 122	317 709	180 784	92 703	273 487	180 655	80 889	261 544
2005/06	Urban	72 296	61 841	134 137	64 997	55 315	120 312	65 162	51 172	116 334	57 697	44 840	102 537	56 357	41 664	98 021
	Rural	197 028	109 153	306 181	170 758	84 724	255 482	144 221	62 003	206 224	119 340	46 380	165 720	119 562	43 089	162 651
	Total	269 324	170 994	440 318	235 755	140 039	375 794	209 383	113 175	322 558	177 037	91 220	268 257	175 919	84 753	260 672
2007/08	Urban	75 488	65 627	141 115	69 773	58 667	128 440	68 376	55 732	124 108	60 106	49 883	109 989	56 839	43 387	100 226
	Rural	196 995	125 987	322 982	173 038	97 725	270 763	151 657	73 082	224 739	125 455	56 845	182 300	116 526	49 336	165 862
	Total	272 483	191 614	464 097	242 811	156 392	399 203	220 033	128 814	348 847	185 561	106 728	292 289	173 365	92 723	266 088
2008/09	Urban	77 681	65 986	143 667	72 598	60 670	133 268	70 102	58 105	128 207	62 860	51 935	114 795	59 425	46 346	105 771
	Rural	199 926	129 350	329 276	175 867	105 706	281 573	152 058	77 035	229 093	128 027	61 652	189 679	119 951	53 260	173 211
	Total	277 607	195 336	472 943	248 465	166 376	414 841	222 160	135 140	357 300	190 887	113 587	304 474	179 376	99 606	278 982

Table 14

Number of students in secondary education, by sex and area (urban-rural), female/male ratios in urban and rural areas, and females as a percentage of total student number in urban and rural areas

(2001/02–2008/09)

Academic year	Urban	Total	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural
Male	Female	Male	Female	Female/male ratio	Females as percentage of total number	Female/male ratio	Females as percentage of total number
2001/02	145 839	85 828	231 667	208 904	44 001	252 905	0.59	37.0%	0.21	17.4%
2002/03	156 064	101 218	257 282	232 675	59 406	292 081	0.65	39.3%	0.26	20.3%
2003/04	166 438	110 686	277 124	244 578	67 293	311 871	0.67	39.9%	0.28	21.6%
2004/05	161 383	111 360	272 743	247 648	72 036	319 684	0.69	40.8%	0.29	22.5%
2005/06	145 262	102 015	247 277	207 715	70 798	278 513	0.70	41.3%	0.34	25.4%
2007/08	147 488	110 333	257 821	219 378	83 708	303 086	0.75	42.8%	0.38	27.6%
2008/09	153 183	114 835	268 018	221 134	91 677	312 811	0.75	42.8%	0.41	29.3%

Table 16

Number of students in secondary education, by sex and area (urban-rural), female/male ratios in urban and rural areas, and females as a percentage of total student number in urban and rural areas

(2001/02–2008/09)

Academic year	Urban	Total	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural
Male	Female	Male	Female	Female/male ratio	Females as percentage of total number	Female/male ratio	Females as percentage of total number
2001/02	145 839	85 828	231 667	208 904	44 001	252 905	0.59	37.0%	0.21	17.4%
2002/03	156 064	101 218	257 282	232 675	59 406	292 081	0.65	39.3%	0.26	20.3%
2003/04	166 438	110 686	277 124	244 578	67 293	311 871	0.67	39.9%	0.28	21.6%
2004/05	161 383	111 360	272 743	247 648	72 036	319 684	0.69	40.8%	0.29	22.5%
2005/06	145 262	102 015	247 277	207 715	70 798	278 513	0.70	41.3%	0.34	25.4%
2007/08	147 488	110 333	257 821	219 378	83 708	303 086	0.75	42.8%	0.38	27.6%
2008/09	153 183	114 835	268 018	221 134	91 677	312 811	0.75	42.8%	0.41	29.3%

Table 43

Distribution of schools, by stage, sex and area (urban-rural)

(2001/02–2008/09)

Academic year		Basic only	Basic/secondary	Secondary	Total
Area	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total
2001/02	Urban	168	123	538	829	150	167	281	598	70	26	40	136	388	316	859	1 563
	Rural	940	361	7 785	9 086	244	139	2 317	2 700	35	4	89	128	1 219	504	10 191	11 914
	Total	1 108	484	8 323	9 915	394	306	2 598	3 298	105	30	129	264	1 607	820	11 050	13 477
2002/03	Urban	199	146	553	898	111	148	296	555	83	33	37	153	393	327	886	1 606
	Rural	830	390	8 175	9 395	189	137	2 274	2 600	39	5	96	140	1 058	532	10 545	12 135
	Total	1 029	536	8 728	10 293	300	285	2 570	3 155	122	38	133	293	1 451	859	11 431	13 741
2003/04	Urban	216	163	586	965	108	149	281	538	84	36	39	159	408	348	906	1 662
	Rural	690	391	8 638	9 719	185	143	2 103	2 431	36	4	101	141	911	538	10 842	12 291
	Total	906	554	9 224	10 684	293	292	2 384	2 969	120	40	140	300	1 319	886	11 748	13 953
2004/05	Urban	214	165	647	1 026	97	141	333	571	84	37	36	157	395	343	1 016	1 754
	Rural	617	417	8 985	10 019	186	160	2 141	2 487	38	6	106	150	841	583	11 232	12 656
	Total	831	582	9 632	11 045	283	301	2 474	3 058	122	43	142	307	1 236	926	12 248	14 410
2005/06	Urban	232	169	705	1 106	110	149	348	607	86	40	38	164	428	358	1 091	1 877
	Rural	586	448	9 345	10 379	183	173	2 204	2 560	40	6	113	159	809	627	11 662	13 098
	Total	818	617	10 050	11 485	293	322	2 552	3 167	126	46	151	323	1 237	985	12 753	14 975
2007/08	Urban	216	167	782	1 165	120	153	364	637	88	42	27	157	424	362	1 173	1 959
	Rural	472	428	9 537	10 437	212	197	2 319	2 728	38	5	123	166	722	630	11 979	13 331
	Total	688	595	10 319	11 602	332	350	2 683	3 365	126	47	150	323	1 146	992	13 152	15 290
2008/09	Urban	237	171	830	1 238	129	178	380	687	91	40	30	161	457	389	1 240	2 086
	Rural	452	428	9 698	10 578	215	219	2 403	2 837	36	4	120	160	703	651	12 221	13 575
	Total	689	599	10 528	11 816	344	397	2 783	3 524	127	44	150	321	1 160	1 040	13 461	15 661

Academic year		Basic only	Basic/secondary	Secondary	Total
Area	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total
2001/02	Urban	168	123	538	829	150	167	281	598	70	26	40	136	388	316	859	1 563
	Rural	940	361	7 785	9 086	244	139	2 317	2 700	35	4	89	128	1 219	504	10 191	11 914
	Total	1 108	484	8 323	9 915	394	306	2 598	3 298	105	30	129	264	1 607	820	11 050	13 477
2002/03	Urban	199	146	553	898	111	148	296	555	83	33	37	153	393	327	886	1 606
	Rural	830	390	8 175	9 395	189	137	2 274	2 600	39	5	96	140	1 058	532	10 545	12 135
	Total	1 029	536	8 728	10 293	300	285	2 570	3 155	122	38	133	293	1 451	859	11 431	13 741
2003/04	Urban	216	163	586	965	108	149	281	538	84	36	39	159	408	348	906	1 662
	Rural	690	391	8 638	9 719	185	143	2 103	2 431	36	4	101	141	911	538	10 842	12 291
	Total	906	554	9 224	10 684	293	292	2 384	2 969	120	40	140	300	1 319	886	11 748	13 953
2004/05	Urban	214	165	647	1 026	97	141	333	571	84	37	36	157	395	343	1 016	1 754
	Rural	617	417	8 985	10 019	186	160	2 141	2 487	38	6	106	150	841	583	11 232	12 656
	Total	831	582	9 632	11 045	283	301	2 474	3 058	122	43	142	307	1 236	926	12 248	14 410
2005/06	Urban	232	169	705	1 106	110	149	348	607	86	40	38	164	428	358	1 091	1 877
	Rural	586	448	9 345	10 379	183	173	2 204	2 560	40	6	113	159	809	627	11 662	13 098
	Total	818	617	10 050	11 485	293	322	2 552	3 167	126	46	151	323	1 237	985	12 753	14 975
2007/08	Urban	216	167	782	1 165	120	153	364	637	88	42	27	157	424	362	1 173	1 959
	Rural	472	428	9 537	10 437	212	197	2 319	2 728	38	5	123	166	722	630	11 979	13 331
	Total	688	595	10 319	11 602	332	350	2 683	3 365	126	47	150	323	1 146	992	13 152	15 290
2008/09	Urban	237	171	830	1 238	129	178	380	687	91	40	30	161	457	389	1 240	2 086
	Rural	452	428	9 698	10 578	215	219	2 403	2 837	36	4	120	160	703	651	12 221	13 575
	Total	689	599	10 528	11 816	344	397	2 783	3 524	127	44	150	321	1 160	1 040	13 461	15 661

Table 21

Distribution of schools, by stage, sex and area (urban-rural)

(2001/02–2008/09)

Academic year		Basic only	Basic/secondary	Secondary	Total
Area	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total	Boys	Girls	Mixed	Total
2001/02	Urban	168	123	538	829	150	167	281	598	70	26	40	136	388	316	859	1 563
Rural	940	361	7 785	9 086	244	139	2 317	2 700	35	4	89	128	1 219	504	10 191	11 914
Total	1 108	484	8 323	9 915	394	306	2 598	3 298	105	30	129	264	1 607	820	11 050	13 477
2002/03	Urban	199	146	553	898	111	148	296	555	83	33	37	153	393	327	886	1 606
Rural	830	390	8 175	9 395	189	137	2 274	2 600	39	5	96	140	1 058	532	10 545	12 135
Total	1 029	536	8 728	10 293	300	285	2 570	3 155	122	38	133	293	1 451	859	11 431	13 741
2003/04	Urban	216	163	586	965	108	149	281	538	84	36	39	159	408	348	906	1 662
Rural	690	391	8 638	9 719	185	143	2 103	2 431	36	4	101	141	911	538	10 842	12 291
Total	906	554	9 224	10 684	293	292	2 384	2 969	120	40	140	300	1 319	886	11 748	13 953
2004/05	Urban	214	165	647	1 026	97	141	333	571	84	37	36	157	395	343	1 016	1 754
Rural	617	417	8 985	10 019	186	160	2 141	2 487	38	6	106	150	841	583	11 232	12 656
Total	831	582	9 632	11 045	283	301	2 474	3 058	122	43	142	307	1 236	926	12 248	14 410
2005/06	Urban	232	169	705	1 106	110	149	348	607	86	40	38	164	428	358	1 091	1 877
Rural	586	448	9 345	10 379	183	173	2 204	2 560	40	6	113	159	809	627	11 662	13 098
Total	818	617	10 050	11 485	293	322	2 552	3 167	126	46	151	323	1 237	985	12 753	14 975
2007/08	Urban	216	167	782	1 165	120	153	364	637	88	42	27	157	424	362	1 173	1 959
Rural	472	428	9 537	10 437	212	197	2 319	2 728	38	5	123	166	722	630	11 979	13 331
Total	688	595	10 319	11 602	332	350	2 683	3 365	126	47	150	323	1 146	992	13 152	15 290
2008/09	Urban	237	171	830	1 238	129	178	380	687	91	40	30	161	457	389	1 240	2 086
Rural	452	428	9 698	10 578	215	219	2 403	2 837	36	4	120	160	703	651	12 221	13 575
Total	689	599	10 528	11 816	344	397	2 783	3 524	127	44	150	321	1 160	1 040	13 461	15 661
Overall increase	-0.38	0.24	0.26	0.19	-0.13	0.30	0.07	0.07	0.21	0.47	0.16	0.22	-0.28	0.27	0.22	0.16
Annual increase	-0.05	0.03	0.03	0.02	-0.02	0.04	0.01	0.01	0.03	0.06	0.02	0.03	-0.03	0.03	0.03	0.02

Table 26

Staff grades introduced and used in general education schools, by governorate and sex, 2001/02–2008/09

Description	2001/02	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04
Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Ministry	11	0	11	7	1	8	21	5	26	11	4	15
Ibb	339	77	416	249	57	306	355	149	504	245	147	392
Abyan	134	37	171	97	64	161	196	73	269	139	95	234
Sana`a City	90	236	326	65	180	245	264	540	804	225	466	691
Baida’	211	22	233	6	1	7	336	87	423	308	60	368
Ta`izz	360	97	457	225	54	279	355	355	710	276	334	610
Jawf	347	90	437	158	44	202	142	43	185	187	1	188
Hajjah	301	38	339	269	80	349	395	63	458	446	31	477
Hudaydah	141	60	201	103	86	189	166	134	300	139	205	344
Hadramawt/Makala	146	49	195	162	60	222	173	137	310	320	81	401
Dhimar	249	57	306	279	75	354	502	61	563	402	99	501
Shabwah	581	37	618	359	35	394	419	64	483	301	63	364
Sa`dah	220	46	266	157	3	160	207	14	221	586	153	739
Sana`a	286	82	368	60	14	74	1 225	128	1 353	620	100	720
Dali’	165	28	193	168	23	191	175	35	210	180	41	221
Aden	58	100	158	25	128	153	66	113	179	62	111	173
Amran	296	20	316	281	29	310	406	104	510	481	74	555
Lahij	207	71	278	9	4	13	334	146	480	183	105	288
Ma’rib	291	78	369	310	28	338	204	30	234	357	95	452
Mahwayt	171	31	202	162	39	201	328	66	394	332	51	383
Mahrah	63	15	78	55	14	69	91	7	98	63	19	82
Hadramawt/Sinun	136	15	151	140	27	167	175	31	206	231	49	280
Raymah	26	7	33	11	0	11	188	5	193	216	10	226
Total	4 829	1 293	6 122	3 357	1 046	4 403	6 723	2 390	9 113	6 310	2 394	8 704

Description	2004/05	2005/06	2007/08	2008/09	Total
Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Ministry	4	0	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	8	0	8	63	10	73
Ibb	181	67	248	190	61	251	163	80	243	185	53	238	1 907	691	2 598
Abyan	133	63	196	153	43	196	143	42	185	178	61	239	1 173	478	1 651
Sana`a City	315	222	537	145	126	271	110	118	228	108	68	176	1 322	1 956	3 278
Baida’	218	35	253	93	31	124	185	68	253			0	1 357	304	1 661
Ta`izz	220	142	362	208	121	329	198	136	334	214	155	369	2 056	1 394	3 450
Jawf	188	27	215	117	23	140	68	4	72	108	3	111	1 315	235	1 550
Hajjah	303	36	339	275	29	304	231	29	260	245	36	281	2 465	342	2 807
Hudaydah	140	94	234	123	112	235	126	90	216	93	97	190	1 031	878	1 909
Hadramawt/Makala	298	97	395	242	51	293	250	69	319	142	56	198	1 733	600	2 333
Dhimar	335	78	413	352	68	420	234	46	280	8	4	12	2 361	488	2 849
Shabwah	149	29	178	286	62	348	127	72	199	232	183	415	2 454	545	2 999
Sa`dah	118	60	178	240	18	258	95	61	156	93	49	142	1 716	404	2 120
Sana`a	506	11	517	458	11	469	269	94	363	394	67	461	3 818	507	4 325
Dali’	162	55	217	155	39	194	151	30	181	138	34	172	1 294	285	1 579
Aden	253	81	334	84	101	185	35	136	171	33	266	299	616	1 036	1 652
Amran	278	75	353	288	36	324	219	41	260	203	23	226	2 452	402	2 854
Lahij	162	56	218	150	45	195	129	46	175	3	0	3	1 177	473	1 650
Ma’rib	174	86	260	126	94	220	149	309	458	180	117	297	1 791	837	2 628
Mahwayt	212	31	243	200	27	227	143	43	186	184	38	222	1 732	326	2 058
Mahrah	49	37	86	82	36	118	36	56	92	54	25	79	493	209	702
Hadramawt/Sinun	158	20	178	112	28	140	662	148	810	102	28	130	1 716	346	2 062
Raymah	251	37	288	186	38	224	160	21	181	121	9	130	1 159	127	1 286
Total	4 807	1 439	6 246	4 266	1 200	5 466	3 883	1 739	5 622	3 026	1 372	4 398	37 201	12 873	50 074

Source, description and year	Infant mortality rate	Child mortality rate
Urban	Rural	Total	Urban	Rural	Total
Demographic survey 1991/92*	88.9	99.8	98	116.1	142.1	137.7
1994 census	76.9	86.1	84	-	-	-
2004 census	74.7	78.9	77.7	89.4	93.5	92.3

Remarks:

* Infant and child mortality rates in 1991/92 demographic survey based on estimates for 10 years prior to survey; 1994 and 2004 census data refer to year of census.

Infant and child (under-five) mortality rate trends in Yemen, by sex

Demographic survey 1991/92, 1994 census and 2004 census

Source, description and year	Infant mortality rate	Child mortality rate
Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Demographic survey 1991/92*	106	90	98	142.2	133	137.7
1994 census	91	76	84	-	-	-
2004 census	79.1	75	77.2	92.9	91.7	92.3

Remarks:

* Infant and child mortality rates in 1991/92 demographic survey based on estimates for 10 years prior to survey; 1994 and 2004 census data refer to year of census.

Persons with disabilities in Yemen, by governorate, 1994 census and 2004 census

Numerical distribution and percentage of the population

Governorate	1994 census	2004 census
Disabled	Not disabled	Number of disabled persons as a percentage of total number of disabled persons	Disabled	Not disabled	Number of disabled persons as a percentage of total number of disabled persons
Ibb	8 711	1 656 343	11.1	43 971	2 087 890	11.6
Abyan	1 450	341 178	1.8	7 329	426 490	1.9
Sana`a City	4 691	998 936	6	24 681	1 723 153	6.5
Baida’	1 644	452 964	2.1	8 673	568 696	2.3
Ta`izz	11 338	1 858 719	14.5	52 016	2 341 409	13.7
Jawf	1 440	346 199	1.8	8 940	434 857	2.4
Hajjah	5 771	1 086 017	7.4	29 604	1 449 964	7.8
Hudaydah	10 886	1 547 627	13.9	48 398	2 109 154	12.7
Hadramawt	3 483	752 148	4.4	16 203	1 012 353	4.3
Dhimar	6 023	975 651	7.7	27 530	1 302 578	7.2
Shabwah	1 502	363 430	1.9	6 882	463 558	1.8
Sa`dah	2 816	478 801	3.6	14 904	680 129	3.9
Sana`a	3 096	743 716	3.9	16 487	902 728	4.3
Aden	2 379	401 878	3	10 519	578 900	2.8
Lahij	2 700	553 042	3.4	13 547	709 147	3.6
Ma’rib	635	181 105	0.8	3 315	235 207	0.9
Mahwayt	2 322	369 273	3	10 907	483 650	2.9
Mahrah	373	56 052	0.5	1 048	87 546	0.3
Amran	3 498	728 375	4.5	14 398	863 388	3.8
Dali’	1 664	328 398	2.1	8 640	461 924	2.3
Raymah	2 039	289 494	2.6	11 932	382 516	3.1
Total	78 461	14 509 346	100	379 924	19 305 237	100

Number and percent distribution of disabled resident population in the rural and urban areas of Yemen, by type of disability and gender

Type of disability	Urban	Rural	Total
M ales	Females	No.	Total (%)	M ales	Females	No.	Total (%)	M ales	Females	No.	Total (%)
Sight	9 037	7 395	16 432	18.13	28 449	27 450	55 899	19.32	37 486	34 845	72 331	19.04
Hearing	4 617	3 782	8 399	9.27	16 961	15 219	32 180	11.12	21 578	19 001	40 579	10.68
Speech	2 881	1 778	4 659	5.14	7 793	5 224	13 017	4.50	10 674	7 002	17 676	4.65
Hearing and speech	2 249	1 592	3 841	4.24	6 171	5 281	11 452	3.96	8 420	6 873	15 293	4.03
Walking	11 861	7 838	19 699	21.73	33 947	26 610	60 557	20.93	45 808	34 448	80 256	21.12
Motor	3 393	2 508	5 901	6.51	10 751	9 041	19 792	6.84	14 144	11 549	25 693	6.76
Difficulty gripping objects	2 642	1 236	3 878	4.28	8 623	5 061	13 684	4.73	11 265	6 297	17 562	4.62
Mental	10 443	4 677	15 120	16.68	26 874	12 980	39 854	13.78	37 317	17 657	54 974	14.47
Two or more disabilities	6 634	5 311	11 945	13.18	21 062	20 671	41 733	14.43	27 696	25 982	53 678	14.13
Unspecified	534	231	765	0.84	581	536	1 117	0.39	1 115	767	1 882	0.50
Total	54 291	36 348	90 639	100.00	161 212	128 073	289 285	100.00	215 503	164 421	379 924	100.00

Numerical and percentage distribution of disabled resident population, by cause of disability and sex, in rural and urban areas in Yemen

Cause of disability	Urban	Rural	Total
Males	Females	No.	Total %	Males	Females	No.	Total %	Males	Females	No.	Total %
Congenital	14 822	9 570	24 392	26.91	43 641	32 006	75 647	26.15	58 463	41 576	100 039	26.33
Work injury	2 434	397	2 831	3.12	7 317	2 314	9 631	3.33	9 751	2 711	12 462	3.28
Accident	3 259	853	4 112	4.54	6 626	1 998	8 624	2.98	9 885	2 851	12 736	3.35
Traffic accident	7 914	3 917	11 831	13.05	19 784	10 666	30 450	10.53	27 698	14 583	42 281	11.13
Diseas e infirmity	13 150	8 984	22 134	24.42	35 288	26 963	62 251	21.52	48 438	35 947	84 385	22.21
Weapon s accident	1 392	142	1 534	1.69	4 282	568	4 850	1.68	5 674	710	6 384	1.68
Landmine	348	56	404	0.45	1 182	244	1 426	0.49	1 530	300	1 830	0.48
Old age	8 546	10 910	19 456	21.47	37 944	49 018	86 962	30.06	46 490	59 928	106 418	28.01
Unspecified	2 426	1 519	3 945	4.35	5 148	4 296	9 444	3.26	7 574	5 815	13 389	3.52
Total	54 291	36 348	90 639	100.00	161 212	128 073	289 285	100.00	215 503	164 421	379 924	100.00