Fourth Yemeni Media Conference Kicks Off under the Theme “Standing Together to Defend Media Freedoms”
Today, Sunday, November 2, 2025, the Fourth Yemeni Media Conference kicked off, organized by the Marsadak (Yemeni Media Freedoms Observatory) affiliated with the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC), with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under the theme “Standing Together to Defend Media Freedoms.” The event brought together around 150 male and female journalists, academics, and media and freedom of expression advocates from across the country.
In his opening remarks at the conference, held virtually via Zoom, Mustafa Nasr, Chairman of the SEMC, emphasized that the event has become an annual occasion embodying the spirit of professional solidarity in the face of challenges confronting Yemeni journalism. He noted that the Marsadak affiliated with SEMC has documented 2,629 violations against journalists since 2015 and called for the release of eight journalists still in detention.
Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Moammar Al-Eryani, also welcomed the conference, describing it as “a national platform for dialogue and a tool for awareness.” He reaffirmed the Yemen government’s commitment to freedom of expression and to providing a free and diverse media environment, expressing hope that the next version would be held in-person within Yemen.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Yemen, H.E Jeannette Seppen, highlighted that her country places media freedom and human rights at the core of its foreign policy. She praised the ongoing cooperation with the SEMC since 2021 in documenting violations and supporting journalists, calling for an end to impunity and the establishment of a safe environment for media professionals.
The first session of the conference addressed the state of Yemeni journalism and the inconsistencies in legal frameworks and their impact on violations against journalists. The session featured prominent journalists and human rights experts, including Fathi bin Lazraq, Afrah Al-Hariri, Nabil Al-Soufi, and Hamoud Munasser.
Concurrently with the conference launch, the SEMC inaugurated a training course titled “Strategies for Producing Digital Content and Using AI Tools in Journalism.” Running until November 6, the course involves 22 participants representing independent media institutions and platforms from eight Yemeni governorates, aiming to enhance journalistic capacity in producing impactful digital stories that serve community interests.
Pre-conference activities also included two training sessions held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 26 September School for Boys and Al-Hakimi School for Girls in Taiz as part of Media and Information Literacy Week, benefiting 75 students.
The conference will continue until November 6, bringing together a distinguished group of journalists, experts, and researchers to discuss issues of media freedom, technological developments, and the challenges facing the present and future of journalism in Yemen.