Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Ashwaq Abdulrahman

Ms. Ashwaq Abdulrahman Abdullah Al-Taj was awarded a Master’s degree in the major of Migration and Asylum with an average of (Excellent) and a grade of (94%) for her thesis titled “International Protection for Women and Children During Armed Conflicts in Light of International Humanitarian Law and Islamic Sharia: A Comparative Study,” which was submitted to Migration and Refugee Studies Center (MRSC) – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:

The thesis aimed to:

• Highlight the international protection afforded to women and children during armed conflicts.
• Clarify the rules of protection for women and children in International Humanitarian Law and Islamic Sharia.
• Identify prominent governmental and non-governmental international organizations involved in providing protection to women and children during armed conflicts.

In her thesis, the researcher reached several important conclusions, most notably:

• Islamic Sharia has given significant attention to the protection of women and children during armed conflicts, emphasizing the prohibition of killing women and children, thereby reinforcing humanitarian principles and compassion.
• The study showed that despite international conventions and laws aimed at protecting civilians, especially women and children, during armed conflicts, the harsh reality is that these groups continue to be subjected to grave violations. The situations in Palestine, Yemen, and other conflict zones indicate a significant gap between the texts of laws and their actual implementation.
• The study concluded that women and children are still exposed to violations during armed conflicts without strict measures being taken against perpetrators.

The thesis also put forth several key recommendations, including:

• The study recommends that State Parties to the Geneva Conventions and other relevant instruments commit to applying the rules of International Humanitarian Law concerning the protection of women and children. This specifically includes preventing all forms of violence, assaults, and gender-based violence, providing special protection for pregnant and nursing women, and ensuring access to essential healthcare and education for children.
• The study recommended activating and effectively implementing the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, especially articles (68, 78, 121, 41, 42, 43) related to the protection of women and children in the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The thesis was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, and interested individuals, in addition to the candidate’s colleagues and family members.