An agreement to protect Yemeni women and children from violence and sexual abuse was signed between the government of the Royal Netherlands and the Arab Sisters Forum for Human Rights (ASFHR), a local NGO.

According to Gulf News the $700,000 (Dh2.6m) project, which will be implemented over the next four years, will provide assistance and legal protection for women and children who are victims of violence and sexual molestation, a statement issued by the ASFHR on Thursday said. The agreement was signed by Amal Basha, president of ASFHR and Ralph Harry Buikeman, the Dutch ambassador to Sana'a.

The unique project will include women and children from the country's 21 provinces and will not be limited to the capital Sana'a. In addition to providing assistance to victims of violence, a legal team and gender experts will conduct a study into the reasons behind violence and suggest suitable solutions.

A refuge, Sisters' House, for the victims, hot line for receiving complaints and a centre for listening to the victims and providing psychological and medical services and also training and qualifying them, will be among the activities of the project.

Meanwhile, Amal said, the European Union would support establishment of an independent national organisation for human rights in Yemen. A team from the European Commission will meet officials at the Presidential Office to discuss the move.