Mogadishu – Observing the start of the annual global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the United Nations in Somalia today underlined the importance of the Somali authorities’ increasing investment in the fight against gender-based violence.
“Addressing gender-based violence requires financial and material resources with a particular focus on protecting women, children, persons with disabilities, and minorities who are the most vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence,” the Acting UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, said.
“The United Nations also urges the adoption of legislation to criminalize gender-based violence in compliance with the international human rights obligations to which Somalia has already subscribed. This will ensure that persons who commit crimes are held accountable and survivors have access to justice,” Mr. Swan added.
The global theme for this year’s 16 Days campaign – “UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls” – calls on citizens to show their commitment by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women and girls. The campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
Throughout the 16 days, the UN in Somalia will work with the government and civil society to highlight the need to end gender-based violence with an emphasis on the need to speed up the legislative process for enacting laws to protect women and girls. The UN is committed to helping Somali women and girls realise their full potential and live a life free from violence of all forms.
In April this year, the UN released the report ‘Tackling sexual violence in Somalia: prevention and protection,’ which presented a set of recommendations on how to improve the protection environment for women and girls in Somalia.
The annual 16 Days of Activism campaign begins on 25 November, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs through 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign aims to increase awareness, stimulate advocacy efforts and share knowledge to end violence against women.
