A society where justice and full access to rights is guaranteed to everyone
Mwatana advocates for human rights through the verification and documentation of violations, provision of legal support to victims, lobbying, as well as awareness raising and capacity building.
Mwatana is an independent Yemeni organization established in 2007 and advocates for human rights. Even though the former regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh declined to provide the organization with the permit to conduct its work, Mwatana was able to implement its activities and participate with other parties in advocacy campaigns against the violations of human rights committed in various parts of Yemen, including those committed against the peaceful Southern Movement sit-ins, during the Saadah wars, and the arrests of activists, opponents, and journalists. Furthermore, “Mwatana” cooperated and coordinated with international partners in documenting human rights violations in Yemen.
In April 2013, Mwatana finally obtained its permit and was able to expand its institutional capacities and intensify its activities. Mwatana is currently documenting the violations committed by the parties to the conflict and the various authorities and is publishing the results of its investigations in multiple publications. Mwatana also provides legal support and advice to victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, in addition to implementing advocacy activities and campaigns at the international level and among decision-makers. It also works to ensure accountability for violators and justice for victims and to build capacity in the human rights field.
In 2018, the Baldwin Award recognized Mwatana’s work. Human Rights First announced awarding the 2018 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty to Mwatana. In the same year, the 10th International Hrant Dink Award was granted to Mwatana for depicting to the world the status of human rights in Yemen and for fighting against human rights violations in the country. In 2019, the American magazine “Time” listed Radhya Almutawakel (Chairperson of the organization) among its 100 most influential people in the world.
In February 2021, Mwatana for Human Rights and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) were nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
In order to achieve its objectives efficiently and effectively, Mwatana for Human Rights strengthened its institutional structure to ensure a structure and policies that comply with the principles and standards of governance, good management, transparency and integrity.
The Board of Trustees is the highest supervisory and controlling body of Mwatana for Human Rights, responsible for overseeing and regulating the organization's activities. Comprising of seven members with local, regional, and international expertise in human rights, the Board is responsible for reviewing and approving reports, policies, plans, decisions, and the organization's overall objectives and strategy. It is also responsible for reviewing and approving budgets and accounts, as well as the appointment of senior management members, including the Executive Director and internal and external auditors.
The Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights is primarily responsible for representing the organization in various local and international forums, especially through advocacy and lobbying. Among her duties, as the head of the organization and chair of the Board of Trustees, is to ensure that the responsibilities entrusted to the various bodies operate effectively, smoothly and uniformly. She follows up closely- along with the Executive Director and the Administrative Board-the progress of the work of the organization. In addition to the above, the Chairperson is responsible, along with the Executive Director and the Administrative Board, for developing the corporate strategy, plans, policies and decisions, and submitting them to the Board of Trustees for review and approval.
Co-founder and Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights and a Yemeni human rights defender. She worked in the National Women's Committee in Yemen from 2000 until 2004, responsible for public relations and support for women's participation in the political process.
In 2004, she began working in the field of human rights, where she worked on human rights violations in the context of the Sa’adah wars (Northern Yemen), as well as focusing on enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests that occurred during that period. She gained qualitative experience from her work in the field of human rights with international organizations, such as: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Open Society Foundations.
In 2017; Al-Mutawakel undertook an advocacy tour in a number of countries, including visits to the US, UK, and Switzerland, and other European countries. The tour included speaking about the ongoing conflict in Yemen and human rights violations committed by all parties to the conflict, in addition to seeking to engage a number of nations to bring an end to the conflict. On May 30, 2017, Al-Mutawakel briefed the UN Security Council in an open session held at its headquarters in New York, during which she shed light on the human rights and humanitarian disaster in Yemen. She also gave a number of public briefings to the US Congress, the European Parliament, and the Human Rights Council. She also wrote about the human rights and humanitarian situation in many foreign newspapers, most notably The Guardian, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, and others, speaking about violence and human rights violations during the current conflict in Yemen.
In recognition of her efforts and leadership of the work of Mwatana for Human Rights, Radhya Al-Mutawakel has been awarded a number of awards, including the Global Advocate Award - the Resident Practitioner Program, from Columbia Law School – won jointly with Abdul Rashid Al-Faqih- . The American Time magazine named her as one of the 100 most influential people around the world for the year 2019. She also won the Anna Politkovskaya Award for the year 2020, which is presented by the Human Rights Organization “RAW in WAR” to reach all Women in War, honoring her for having courageously established and led efforts in Yemen to investigate and document war crimes against civilians committed by all parties to the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
The Vice Chairperson of the organization is the second official in the organization. He represents Mwatana in various events and high-level activities internally and externally. He also contributes to advocacy and lobbying efforts, accountability and fairness work, and follows up on the objective aspect in all the organization’s work, reviewing and approving the organization’s publications and positions, and monitoring the quality of the organization’s work. The organization in various aspects, and contribute to the work of drawing the organization's objective orientations and periodic evaluation thereof, and contribute to work to ensure the organization's compliance with its values at various levels, Contribute to supervising oversight, evaluation and audit mechanisms, and contribute to adjudicating any disputes between administrative levels in the event that they cannot be resolved at lower levels, and contribute to mobilizing resources and building relationships, and contributing to building the strategic plan and periodic plans, and contributing to the work of governance, institutional building and good management, Contribute to the preparation of plans, programs and projects of the organization, follow-up and supervise their implementation, and support and supervise the Executive Director in his duties.
Co-founder and Vice President of Mwatana for Human Rights.
A Yemeni human rights activist has been working in the field of human rights since 2006. He has worked on documenting human rights violations with international organizations, such as: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Open Society Foundations. He contributed to the establishment of Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, and has served as its executive director, since its establishment in early 2007.
Administrative Board
Headed by the Executive Director or his representative, the Administrative Board is composed of the directors of the organization’s units and departments. It is a body that supports the Executive Director in dealing with various developments, and contributes with him to formulating plans, reports, and decisions
The Executive Director of Mwatana for Human Rights is responsible for all financial, administrative, and substantive operations, daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. He works on managing activities and programs with the various units and departments of the organization, works on mobilizing and managing resources, and contributes, with the Chairperson of the organization and the Administrative Board, to the formulation of policies, plans, and decisions, and acts for the head of the organization when necessary.
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Executive Director of Mwatana for Human Rights. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Arts, English Department, Taiz University. He held the position of Director of Information and Data Management at Mwatana for Human Rights until June 30, 2023. He also previously worked in the Research and Studies Unit at Mwatana, as well as he worked as a translator and information auditor. He led and participated in many community and awareness initiatives in the city of Taiz during the period 2011 to 2015.
Co-Founder of Khuyut Media platform.
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Mwatana for Human Rights makes every effort to carry out its human rights duties in line with clear and objective guidelines that regulate the contents, methodologies, and outcomes of every aspect of its work, all while complying with the highest international standards. The organization maintains an unwavering dedication to managing its financial and administrative resources and processes with the utmost integrity, efficiency, and transparency, in accordance with the best standards and practices. Additionally, Mwatana adheres to policies, procedures, and regulations that reflect principles of good governance, transparency, anti-corruption, conflict of interest prevention, and accountability, promoting excellence and integrity in all aspects of its activities.
Policies and Regulations:
Articles of Association
The Strategic Plan
Good Governance and Management Policy
Financial Regulations
Human Resources Regulations
Anti-Corruption, Embezzlement, Bribery, and Illicit Enrichment Policy
Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Violence Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
Financial Disclosure Policy
Gift Policy
Procurement Policy
Projects and Programs Policy
Exchange Policy
Risk Fund Policy
Security and Safety Policy
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy
Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse Policy
Child Safeguarding Policy
Adult Safeguarding Policy
Volunteering Policy
Fellowship Policy
External Opportunities Policy
Information Technology Policy
Objective Manuals
Code of Conduct
Work Methodology
Violations Documentation Guide
Publications Guide
Studies and Policy Papers Guide
Legal Support Guide
Human Rights Glossary
A specialized internal auditor reviews all financial and administrative operations, in accordance with the principles of international internal auditing. The internal audit process aims to raise the efficiency and accuracy of various financial operations, and to strengthen the accompanying internal control.
Since its establishment, Mwatana has been committed to subject all its financial and administrative operations to specialized independent audit bodies, at the level of each project, and at the level of each fiscal year. External auditors issue periodic reports to show the results of the audits.
While Mwatana is aware of its strengths, it subjects its work and efforts to constant evaluation, in order to recognize weaknesses and work to overcome them. To this end, daily, weekly, monthly and semi-annual accompanying monitoring, evaluation and follow-up mechanisms are built. Therefore, the Department of Evaluation, Follow-up and Learning has been established, through which efficient and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are developed.
Mwatana’s work at all levels is based onunconditional donations and grants provided byindividuals and entities from around theworld, consolidated with “Mwatana” by the belief inhuman rights values and the importance ofefforts to protect and promote them.
Since its inauguration, “Mwatana” has beenkeen to maintain clean sources of support and funding, as it does not accept -under any circumstances - any donations or grants from entities or personalitiesaccused of involvement in:
Human rights violations – Anyform of violence – Terrorism – Corruption – Money Laundering
Mwatana is constantly striving to expand the circle ofits supporters and donors from independent individuals and entities, in orderto ensure the sustainability of its human rights efforts on the front lines tosupport victims in the field.
To donate to support the work of Mwatana for HumanRights, contact us by e-mail:
donate@mwatana.org
Whatsapp: +967739255599
