At Tuesday’s meeting of the Rights and Freedoms Working Group, members heard lectures from various authors, journalists and researchers, including General Book Authority head Abdul Bari Tahir, Alwan Al-Jilany, Nadya Al-Kawkabani and Hisham Basharaheel, Editor-in-chief of Al-Ayyam newspaper.

The guests described not only their past experiences – which included harassment and attacks – but also their visions in relation to rights and freedoms in Yemen’s future.

The seminar included a discussion on Yemen’s legislative process and obstacles which have prevented the introduction of what would amount to key laws. Group members reiterated a call for a law to protect freedom of expression.

A further discussion concerned the subject of intellectual property and how to protect it.