The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies (SCSS) and Columbia Law School Human Rights Clinic (CLSHRC), organized a panel discussion, The War in Yemen: Consequences of the Crisis and Prospects for Peace, to address some of the significant, yet infrequently discussed challenges of the war, and opportunities to address them.
This event brought together experts from the fields of public policy, international relations, public health, human rights, and economics to address some of the significant, yet infrequently discussed challenges of the war, and opportunities to address them.
First, the event shined a spotlight on the implications of the war on the mental health and well-being of Yemenis. Despite the known long-term adverse psychological effects of war, mental health issues in Yemen have largely been neglected by both domestic authorities and the international community. The extreme paucity of research and analysis regarding mental health and psychosocial well-being in Yemen inhibits understanding of the issue and the building of evidence-based recommendations and action.
Second, the economic consequences of the conflict were examined, by looking at the current economic situation in Yemen and discussing the opportunities for successful economic, humanitarian and development interventions in both mid-conflict and post-conflict settings. There is a strong need for empowering Yemeni voices in contributing to development priorities and building consensus on key economic issues and approaches. It also aims to highlight the private sector’s role in responding to the crisis.
Third, the event discussed the prospects for peace in Yemen through various perspectives. Experts from the Sana’a Center discussed the lessons learned from UN-led mediation and conflict resolution efforts in Yemen, and opportunities for action. To this end, the Columbia Human Rights Clinic introduced research and findings on the existing links between mental health and attitudes towards peace processes, and the need for comprehensive Yemen-specific studies to complement the ongoing peace efforts.
