Somalia

PRESS STATEMENT: Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) Call for Equitable and Inclusive Representation in the Formation of Somalia’s Human Rights Commission

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

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Statement by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) on Somalia – (no. OBS/433)

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)

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Silenced Suffering

Silenced Suffering: Unveiling Sexual Violence Against Displaced and Minority Women in Somalia and Somaliland

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.

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Addressing Sexual Offenses in Somalia and Somaliland: Legal Challenges and Legislative Responses

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,

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Press Statement: Women’s Rights Organizations Applaud New Measures for Ensuring Accountability and Justice for Perpetrators of Rape in Somaliland and Advocate for Further Action

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.

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Galmudug State of Somalia Outlaws Female Genital Mutilation, Marking a Historic Milestone

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).

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Gender, Conflict, and Power Analysis: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan

We recently published a report that presents the findings of a Gender, Conflict, and Power Analysis study conducted in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
The study describes the backdrop against which interventions on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda operate and seeks to identify

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