Mogadishu – The importance of increasing Somali women’s participation and inclusion in their country’s political and decision-making arenas was underlined at a recent gathering in the Somali capital, which also included the launch of an initiative to help prevent gender-based violence.
“It is an indisputable fact that women played a critical role in overcoming challenges of conflict, drought and hunger in Somalia over the years, but the question today is whether they have been fully recognized for their efforts – I believe it is only fair to do so,” said Somalia’s Federal Minister of Family Affairs and Human Rights Development, Lt. General Bashir Mohamed Jama.
“Women are not mere beneficiaries of peace, they are active agents of change, mediators and leaders in their communities. In the context of Somalia, we have seen firsthand the transformative impact of including women in conflict resolution, community rebuilding and national decision-making process,” said the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, who also heads the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
“Somalia has made significant strides… We applaud the relentless advocacy by so many parliamentarians, especially the women’s caucuses in both chambers as well the steadfast efforts of women civil society organisations to advance this progress,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Acting Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.
The three senior officials were addressing a gathering on Wednesday to observe the ‘Open Day on Women, Peace and Security,’ which is marked globally and aims to highlight the importance of women in peace-related prevention and conflict resolution, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction.
Other participants included the Head of the UN Support Office for Somalia (UNSOS), Assistant Secretary-General Aisa Kirabo Kacyira; Somalia’s State Minister for Family Affairs and Human Rights Development, Mohamed Osman Omar; parliamentarians; and representatives from civil society and UN agencies, funds and programmes.
Progress made
In Somalia’s most recent federal electoral process in 2022, the government target of achieving a 30 per cent quota for women’s parliamentary representation was not achieved. The final percentage of parliamentary seats held by women was just 21 per cent, down from 24 per cent in the previous electoral cycle in 2016.
In his remarks at the Open Day event, the Acting UN Special Representative noted Somalia’s accomplishments since then. These included the Federal Parliament having adopted chapters of the amended Constitution, which include a provision mandating that future legislation incorporate a clause for a 30 per cent quota for women’s parliamentary representation, as well as the recently-adopted national Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) law, which also includes the women’s quota.
“The United Nations commends the significant achievements to-date and is committed to working with you to build on them. We stand ready to support the implementation of the electoral systems and mechanisms that ensure the 30 per cent quota is not just an aspiration but a reality,” Mr. Swan said.
“There had been much discussion about elections and it is essential to involve every Somali citizen in the electoral process. We have confirmed the need to give women their fair share. It is important that we fight and unite for this cause,” the Minister, Lt. General Jama, told the gathering.
New initiative
The Open Day ceremony included the launch of a new initiative – the Senior Leadership Advocacy Model against Gender-Based Violence in Somalia (SLAM-GBV) – backed by the Ministry, ATMIS and the United Nations in Somalia.
It aims to bolster efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence in the country, through increased awareness and advocacy and enhancing institutional and public commitments to end violence against women and girls.
“Through SLAM-GBV initiative, we aim to enhance accountability, foster greater awareness of the devastating impacts of gender-based violence and mobilize all stakeholders to take decisive and coordinated action to eliminate gender-based violence,” Mr. Swan said.
“By addressing one of the most significant barriers to women’s participation,” he added, “we aim to create a safer and more inclusive environment that empowers women to take their rightful place in leadership and decision-making roles.”
This initiative, once implemented, will spotlight more substantial involvement and advocacy by the Somali authorities, African Union and United Nations in line with the world body’s ‘UNITE to End Violence against Women’ initiative, a multiyear effort to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world.
Given the conflict situation in Somalia, conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence can be deliberately used by parties to the conflict as a tactical weapon of war, aiming to terrorise and control populations. It is a severe violation of human rights, with lasting impacts on survivors, families, and communities.
Open Days
Launched by the United Nations in October 2010, the Global Open Day on Women, Peace, and Security aims to promote the important role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Marked around the world, the event serves as an opportunity for governments, international organizations, and civil society to come together and discuss ways to advance the women, peace, and security agenda.
Additionally, it also seeks to promote women’s participation in peace processes, advance gender equality and support women's empowerment. It is part of the efforts by the United Nation to implement Security Council Resolution 1325, which was adopted in 2000 and recognizes the critical role of women in preventing and resolving conflicts, and to advance the women, peace and security agenda.
