Taiz – Special

SAM for Rights and Liberties, in partnership with the Abductees' Mothers Association and funded by the DT Institute under the SPARK Project, organized a dialogue seminar, held both in person and virtually via Zoom, to discuss the role of community reconciliation in addressing post-war challenges. The seminar used the issue of public buildings and private homes that remain occupied in Taiz Governorate as a case study to examine the challenges and explore potential solutions.

The seminar brought together homeowners, activists, representatives of the security, military, and human rights sectors, as well as representatives of civil society organizations. Participants discussed the key challenges related to public buildings and private homes that remain occupied, the obstacles preventing their return to their rightful owners, and the factors that have contributed to the persistence of this issue.

The discussions also examined the impact of the conflict on property rights and the disputes that have arisen over private property as a result of homes being seized, occupied by individuals or armed groups, or used to shelter internally displaced persons (IDPs). These circumstances have led to significant social tensions, particularly in Taiz Governorate, one of the regions most severely affected by the conflict.

The seminar featured three main sessions, including the presentation of a policy paper examining private homes and public buildings as one of the most pressing post-war challenges. The sessions also explored the role of community reconciliation in restoring rights and resolving disputes, the role of local authorities in supporting durable solutions, as well as mechanisms for property documentation and reparations.

Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening community reconciliation as a complementary mechanism to formal justice. They also called for greater support for coordinated local efforts, the establishment of a comprehensive database of disputed properties, and the activation of complaint-handling and mediation mechanisms before resorting to litigation. These measures, participants noted, would contribute to restoring property rights, promoting social cohesion, and preventing the recurrence of disputes.