Media Sac for Media and Development, in cooperation with the Yemeni Women’s Union, Hadramout Coast and Meemz Art Initiative, concluded the project ‘Speak, We are with You’ Saturday, Aug. 14, with the implementation of a panel discussion on “Using Digital Media and Arts to Advocate for Women’s Issues” via zoom. The panel discussion hosted Ms. Maha Awad, CEO of Wjood for Human Security, Amani Yahya, a rapper, and Hadeel Al-Ashwal, the founder of Mena Age.

Ms. Maha Awad reviewed the role of the concerned authorities beside women to reduce the state of silence and fear among women and how to seek help when any woman is subjected to any kind of violence.

Amani Yahya added about the role of art in expressing women’s issues, communicating messages to society and defending their rights.

Activist Hadeel Al-Ashwal, founder of Mena Age for gender equality, concluded about the positive role of the power of social media in supporting many issues that defend women and their issues and the role and importance of digital media.

The project, which lasted for two months, included several activities, including training (15) media professionals on the use of digital media to advocate for women’s issues. In addition, free art space was implemented, including an exhibition of plastic art and a play on underage marriage.

“Speak, We are with You” is part of the “Influential Voices” training program for Yemeni women, which is organized by the Institute for Citizenship and Diversity Management at Adyan Foundation, in partnership with the media department of the Foundation and with the support of the Development and Peace Foundation – Canada.

The project aims to promote diversity, counter hate speech, and form a positive public opinion towards conflict reduction.