Yesterday, @OSE_Yemen held a meeting in Aden with a group of Shabwa-based activists and civil society representatives, as part of the political dialogue series. The meeting touched on the political challenges, security issues, and economic concerns, as well as the potential in the governorate. The participants highlighted that #yemen is not isolated from the regional dynamics and called the parties to engage in a political dialogue in good faith to alleviate the suffering of all Yemenis. The participants also stressed that the shrinking space of the civil society, coupled with the arbitrary detention of civil society actors and activists, hinders the chances of having constructive locally-led initiatives to resolve the conflict. Several voices encouraged the UN and the wider international community to visit Shabwa and see the situation on the ground firsthand. The participants highlighted that the continued security incidents in some districts have impacted all aspects of life in the governorate, including living conditions, availability of healthcare services, and children’s access to education. The participants urged all the parties, and regional and international actors to respect and protect the rights of all Yemenis, including the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of women, children, and youth. On the economy, the participants pinpointed that oil exports and natural resources management should be a high priority to address the deteriorating economy, and called for more representation of Shabwanis in the government and equitable sharing of resources.