Taiz – 21 September 2026

SAM for Rights and Liberties, in partnership with the Abductees' Mothers Association and funded by DT Institute, organized, as part of the SPARK Project – Supporting Peace in Yemen through Accountability, Reconciliation, and Knowledge Exchange, a dialogue workshop in Taiz Governorate on the role of university youth in supporting the transitional justice and peacebuilding process in Yemen.

The workshop, titled “University Youth and Transitional Justice in Yemen: Towards Youth Awareness Supporting Peace and Reconciliation,” focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of the concept of transitional justice, its connection to addressing the legacy of conflict and violations, and its key pathways, including truth-seeking, accountability, reparations, institutional reform, preserving collective memory, and ensuring non-recurrence of violations.

Participants discussed the specific challenges and requirements of transitional justice within the Yemeni context, particularly in Taiz Governorate, highlighting the needs of victims and their families for truth, justice, and reparations. Discussions also emphasized the importance of documentation and protecting collective memory from being forgotten or exploited for political purposes.

The workshop also explored the role that universities, youth, and research centers can play in generating knowledge related to the conflict, expanding spaces for dialogue, promoting a culture of human rights, and addressing hate speech, polarization, and divisions within society.

The workshop relied on group discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, enabling participants to connect transitional justice concepts with real experiences from the Yemeni context. It also provided an opportunity to discuss practical initiatives and roles through which young people and academic institutions can contribute to supporting peace, reconciliation, and the preservation of victims’ memories.

The workshop is part of the activities of the SPARK Project, which aims to expand societal dialogue on accountability, reconciliation, and transitional justice, while engaging youth and various community groups in exploring approaches to addressing the legacy of war and building peace based on rights, justice, and the prevention of recurring violations.