Women Solidarity Network Initiative for Ceasefire in Marib

"O believers, enter the peace, all of you, and follow not the steps of Satan; he is a manifest foe to you.
Verse number 208 Chapter 2 (Surat al-Baqara)

As a bloody conflict continues to rage for more than six years now in Yemen, the COVID-19 pandemic is making the situation worse, taking hundreds of lives. The Yemeni people were aspiring hopelessly for all parties to the conflict to unite in facing this pandemic and undertake their responsibilities to join efforts and safeguard human lives. Instead, we have witnessed an escalation of conflict and opening new fronts. Since last March, we have witnessed an increase in hostilities in Mareb governorate by the Houthis in an attempt to seize control of the governorate.
The Women Solidarity Network is calling for an end to this devastating conflict. Accordingly, we demand from all parties to place the interests of the Yemeni people above all, and to seek peace and stop the bloodshed. We therefore present the following Ceasefire Initiative and urge the Houthis and the representatives of the Government of Yemen, including the local authorities, the community leaders, and the tribal leaders, to engage without any delay in a negotiation process to end the fighting and restore peace in Marib. We urge the parties to take the following measures:

Military and security measures:
1) Immediately cease hostilities and military actions on all combat fronts in the Ma'rib Governorate, including but not limited to (Qaniyeh, Sarwah, Al-Mashjah, Hailan, Al-Mukhaddara, Adwan and Al-Jafra), and end all military operations, including but not limited to, reinforcements, mobilization, the opening of new conflict fronts and military repositioning for the purpose of escalation, with the exception of the necessary military defense operations provided priority is given to peaceful negotiations and de-escalations before resorting to force for defense purposes.

2) Forming a military and security committee consisting of local military and security leaders from both sides and ensuring guarantors participation that consists of community figures, politicians and tribal leaders (according to a specific mechanism that is discussed with the parties to the conflict). The guarantors committee should also include civil society including women and youth to work immediately to reach stabilization, cease-fire, and define the disengagement points and redeployment areas.

3) Forming a ceasefire monitoring committee -agreed upon by parties- that includes judges and human rights defenders including women, attorneys and military and security leaders.

4) Stop direct and indirect targeting using all types of heavy, medium, and light weapons, including, but not limited to, the use of ballistic missiles, air strikes, and indiscriminate shelling with missiles and mortar shells.
Halting the cultivation of mines and explosive materials, handing over maps of mines, determining their whereabouts, cooperating with the MASAM Project and protecting their teams to resume the demining process.

The immediate cessation of the storming of residential houses.

1) Allow the Red Crescent and Red Cross organizations to lift and exchange dead bodies and protect these organizations while performing their duties.

2) Stop arbitrary arrests and form a committee to release prisoners of war, men and women from both sides, and release arbitrary detained civilians including women.

3) Commitment to stop recruiting children, reunite them with their families safely, and provide them with psychological, economic and social support.

Humanitarian arrangements:
1) Forming a civil committee representing both parties that also includes civil society representatives including women, youth, and community leaders, to run relief operations and address the crisis of the displaced. This should start with the displaced groups in the torrents of floods, and document the damages caused by the conflict.
Repair and reconnect the power station to provide the electricity service in Ma'rib and other governorates, and protect the maintenance and repairs crew.

2) Maintenance and resume the operations of the gas station, allowing gas to be transported from Mareb to other governorates, and protecting maintenance and repair teams.

3) Opening and maintaining the roads between Marib and Sana'a, facilitating the freedom of movement of citizens including women, and the movement of commercial goods and humanitarian aid.

4) Allow the Group of Eminent Experts to visit Marib Governorate to document human rights violations and abuses.