On June 13, 2025, in the town of Lascanood located near the contested border between Somalia and Somaliland, two young sisters, Fahima Yasiin Mohamoud (16 years old) and Farah Yasiin Mohamoud (17 years old) , were brutally beaten and gang-raped by twenty-five (25) men aged between 17 and 20 years old.
We acknowledge and commend the government for initiating the long-overdue process of establishing a Human Rights Commission, an essential constitutional obligation and a key demand of civil society actors across the country for over a decade.
While this step is welcome and reflects the
Your Excellency, Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie,
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) is a regional feminist network with over 200 member organizations working across South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Somali region. We welcome this opportunity to address the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) this session.
We note with concern that Somalia remains one of the most perilous countries for women and girls, with gender-based violence (GBV)
Consent is not just a buzzword.
DidYouKnow April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month?
Read more to learn
YOUR GUIDE TO SEXUAL CONSENT AND ASSUALT Read More »
This Briefing Paper, aims to support and strengthen feminist resistance movements and collectives across Africa, empowering them to advance gender justice while remaining inclusive and resilient against the rising attacks from anti-rights movements.
LOST GAINS: SOMALIA’S REGRESSION FROM WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT TO SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION Read More »
Sexual violence is a severe issue in Somalia and Somaliland, with many cases unreported or unaddressed. A recent incident involved a 13-year-old girl being attacked by multiple men, exemplifying the widespread problem. The impact of such violence includes health issues, unwanted pregnancies, isolation, stigmatization, and severe psychological trauma, sometimes leading to suicide.
This briefing paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the legal frameworks addressing sexual violence in Somalia and Somaliland. It also seeks to shed light on existing laws and the processes undertaken by the respective governments to address sexual offenses legislatively. The paper highlights the inherent challenges within the judicial structures of both regions,
In 1975 significant strides were made globally in advancing women’s rights, and Somalia was no exception. That year was a good year for Somali women and around the world as the United Nations designated it as International Women’s Year,
Gender Alert: Backlash Against Women’s Representation and Rights in Somali Politics Read More »
We, the undersigned women’s rights organizations and women human rights defenders in Somaliland, acknowledge and welcome the positive step taken by President Muse Bihi to ensure accountability and justice for perpetrators of rape, a crime that disproportionately affects women and girls.
We, the undersigned Women’s Rights Organizations, and Women Human Rights Defenders are proud to celebrate and commend the Galmudug State of Somalia for its groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first Federal Member State in Somalia to pass legislation outlawing all forms of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
