Press and Publications Law

Yemen’s Press and Publications Law is the legal framework concerning the press and publications landscape in Yemen. In an overarching way, this law indirectly links to the ‘Children and Armed Conflict’ agenda through promoting respect for human dignity and freedom of information and by prohibiting harmful content. Moreover, press and journalism is used as a tool for increasing the visibility of the impact of armed conflict on children, and hence, can play a role in safeguarding against and documenting violations against children in conflict settings. This law, adopted in 1990, is composed of 106 articles, divided across 6 chapters according to the following themes:

1- Key definitions and terminologies (Chapter 1, 2): Defines key terms—such as journalism, journalist, and press—and outlines the key fundamental principles and practices of “freedom of the press,” along with the rules/conditions of working journalists in Yemen.

2- Newspapers/magazines (Chapter 3): Describes the legal regulatory aspects of licensing/ using/owning a newspaper and/or magazines.

3- Production and dissemination (Chapter 4): Details the governing and legal aspects of publications, including print, audio, and visual (film/music).

4- Content regulation (Chapter 5): Outlines press/publication violations, such as hate speech, and addresses penalties for different violations.

5- Scope of implementation/enforcement (Chapter 6): Highlights regulations and channels/scope of implementation/enforcement related to various parties (e.g., newspaper offices, news outlets), along with the roles/responsibilities of these entities in relation to media/press.

In terms of implementation, weakened institutions and legal infrastructure is a predominant issue in Yemen, challenges that have been exacerbated by the conflict that escalated in 2015. Moreover, political control over media outlets is a persistent problem in the country. In Yemen, resource scarcity impacts the functioning of the press and media, which tend to be de de-prioritized in comparison to more urgent needs, such as health and education. The low literacy rate in the country in another factor that limits access to information and the efficacy of dissemination channels.[1]

[1] For more information, see “Yemen,” Reporters Without Borders, https://rsf.org/en/country/yemen.