The Community Reconciliation and Consensus Committee, part of the Supporting Peace through Accountability, Reconciliation, and Knowledge Exchange (SPARK) project implemented by SAM for Rights and Liberties, in coordination with the Abductees mothers association and the DT Institute, held a meeting with Dr. Abdulqawi Al-Makhlafi, Deputy Governor of Taiz. The meeting took place within the framework of efforts to strengthen institutional responses to the issue of unvacated homes and properties in the governorate.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed its key activities implemented under the project in the fields of transitional justice and community reconciliation, including conducting dozens of awareness sessions and field visits, holding meetings with local and security leadership, and documenting grievances and conflict-related violations, particularly cases involving the looting of public and private property.

The committee also presented a detailed overview of the “Evacuation and Handover of Buildings” initiative, which aims to address the status of homes and properties that have not been returned to their legitimate owners. The initiative has successfully facilitated the peaceful return of dozens of homes, provided legal and psychological support to affected individuals, and established a comprehensive database of existing cases.

During the meeting, the committee submitted an official statement outlining a comprehensive vision to enhance government response to this issue. The statement emphasized the importance of adopting a clear and transparent institutional mechanism to regulate evacuation procedures, strengthen coordination among relevant authorities, and provide housing alternatives for affected families, thereby balancing property owners’ rights with the needs of impacted groups.

The committee stressed that addressing this issue represents a pivotal step toward reinforcing the rule of law, restoring citizens’ trust in institutions, supporting community stability, and preventing the recurrence of conflict.

This meeting is part of a series of activities implemented by SAM for Rights and Freedoms through the SPARK project, in partnership with the Association of Mothers of the Kidnapped and with the support of the DT Institute, aiming to consolidate the principles of transitional justice, promote community reconciliation pathways, and address the consequences of conflict in Taiz Governorate.