Yemen: helping female detainees and refugees [Archives:2006/927/Local News]

SANA'A, March 6 ) In Yemen, female detainees are frequently banished from society and rejected by their families; few receive visitors and they live behind bars with their children. Khalil is four months old and has spent his whole life in prison since his Somali mother, Aisha, was condemned five months ago.

In the central prison of Hodeida, some of the women rediscover a sense of freedom during lessons given by volunteers from the Yemeni Red Crescent. Many are learning how to sew or how to speak Arabic.

Improving the daily lives of these women and giving them the means to reintegrate into society after their release is a challenge that is supported by the ICRC.

Aisha hopes one day to make use of her new talents.

“I am benefiting from this programme because one day I want to be a seamstress.””

For Aisha and her friend Juma their sole contact with the outside world is their teacher from the Yemeni Red Crescent who they call Aunt Aish. For her