Between the Legacy of Guardianship and the Horrors of War: The Fate of Women in Sudan and the Need for Equitable Legal Frameworks

This research paper examines how Wilāya (Guardianship) impacts the lives and voices of Sudanese women, within the spheres of gender justice, civic engagement and Islamic identity. The paper puts forward the central argument that the intersection of male guardianship, Sharia-derived law, and women’s societal participation creates tension between women’s mobilization for equitable participation and the constraints of legal guardianship.
بين إرث الولاية وأهوال الحرب: مصير النساء في السودان والحاجة إلى هياكل قانونية منصفة

تتناول هذه الورقة البحثيّة تأثير الولاية على حياة النساء السودانيات وأصواتهن، في مجالات العدالة المتصلة بالنوع الاجتماعي والمشاركة المدنية والهُويّة. وتطرح الورقة الحجّة المركزية القائلة بأنّ تقاطع الوصاية الأبوية، والقانون المُستَمَّد من التشريعات الأصولية، ومشاركة المرأة في المجتمع، يخلق توتراً بين حراك المرأة للمشاركة المُنصِفة وبين قيود الولاية
INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE FOR PEACE: Promoting Young Women’s Meaningful Political Participation In South Sudan

The production of this Annual Monitoring Report was developed under the Inclusive Governance for Peace Project: Promoting Young Women’s Meaningful Political Participation in South Sudan. This was generously funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in South Sudan.
Briefing Paper: INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY IN SOMALIA

This briefing paper examines the importance of safeguarding women’s political representation amid Somalia’s transition to a One-Person-One-Vote electoral system, highlighting how electoral reform, entrenched patriarchal norms, clan dynamics, and weak enforcement mechanisms may undermine existing gains in women’s participation.
Budgeting for Inequality: The Decline in Gender-Responsive State Spending for Socio-Economic Rights in Ethiopia and Uganda

This Briefing Paper examines the decline in gender-responsive public spending in Ethiopia and Uganda, showing how current budget priorities are undermining the socio-economic rights of women and girls, particularly in health, education, and social protection, and highlighting the gap
Women at the Center: An In-depth Gender Analysis of the South Sudan Draft Family Law Bill

This gender analysis seeks to assess how effectively South Sudan’s draft Family Law Bill (2022) aligns with the lived realities and needs of women, girls, and communities, as well as with established legal gender equality frameworks at national, regional, and international levels. It provides reflections on the key strengths of the Bill and the gaps that
UN Trust Fund Evaluation Report: We Have Rights – Protecting IDP and Minority Women and Girls from SGBV in Southwest Somalia and Somaliland

This report is a compilation of SIHA Network’s implementation efforts under the “We have Rights” Project, sponsored by the United Nations Trust Fund, together with the following partners: Women Action Advocacy Progress Organization (WAAPO) and Somali Women Development Centre (SWDC). The project ran over the course of three (3) years, from August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2025
POSITION PAPER: BREAKING BARRIERS Enhancing Women’s Access to Gender Responsive Justice in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia

This paper investigates the systemic and cultural barriers that prevent women in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia from accessing justice, highlighting how legal pluralism, patriarchal norms, and conflict perpetuates gender inequality. It offers practical recommendations for governments,
2024 Annual Report

Our 2024 Annual Report celebrates the resilience, leadership, and accomplishments of women, girls, and communities across the Greater Horn of Africa. Amid a year shaped by conflict, displacement, economic instability, and shrinking civic spaces, SIHA Network reached 36,062 individuals through integrated programs.
The Cost Of Backlash: How Roll-Backs On Women’s Rights Deepen Sexual Violence In Somaliland

Produced by WHEEA with financial support from SIHA Network through the KOMBOA project, this paper presents an analysis of the growing backlash against women’s rights and its impact on sexual violence and legal protections in Somaliland.