1. Introduce yourself (Name, organization, and how long you have been involved in activism)
My Name is Fadwo Hassan Jimale, I work for HINNA organization as Protection coordinator, Gender and GBV Activism and also I’m the Chair Lady of Women and Child Cluster (WCC). I have been working in activism for the past 7 years.
2. Describe the work that you have been doing as a women rights activist/ defender in your country;
To oversee the implementation of quality GBV prevention and response activities, promote the quality of GBV services, I assisted a number of GBV survivors in which I provided support services they required through Multisectoral response such as Medical assistance, counseling and referral mechanisms with confidentiality, utilizing survivors center Approach and trained GBV staffs to become leaders of GBV prevention and response.
To support Gender Justice and GBV mainstreaming in Programme interventions, Advocacy and Courageous acts of resistance to breach obstacles of the Somali women and girls.
I have been advocating for women’s rights, gender equality and to support GBV survivors instead of blaming; and perpetrators have to accountable also minority people, Internal Displaced Persons(IDPs) and Returnees whose voices nobody hears.
Since the adoption of the Sexual Offences Bill by the Council of Ministers in May 2018, I am advocating for the passage and implementation of the Sexual Offence Bill, the Bill as it still remains, an important legislation that can go a long way in improving access to justice for survivors of sexual violence.
3. What do you think are the three most important women’s rights issues in your country and why?
- Strengthening Women’s access to Justice 2) Women’s Rights and to provide education for women and girls 3) Gender equality and women’s empowerment.
To get greater participation women in the justice sector, to protect women from the violence including rape and to get comprehensive justice and criminal accountability for sexual crimes in order to get justice for GBV survivors and punishment for the GBV perpetrators.
If the women recognized their rights issues commonly associated with concepts of women’s rights include the right to be free from sexual violence, to vote, to have equal rights and opportunities such as decision making, political participation, health care and access to decent work; to fair wages or equal pay to own property and to get education for women and girls.
Gender inequality is the root cause of violence against women and girls and remains a significant barrier to human progress girls and women who have made main developments. They have not yet gained the result however with negative consequences for the development of their competences caused by violence against women and girls.
4. What kind of limitations have you faced in your activism in your country and beyond, within the East and Horn of Africa region?
Working against gender-based violence (GBV) and women’s rights issues is very sensitive. Fighting and advocating the voiceless people face restraint as activists we encounter many limitations due to our work of activism and gender so change is possible and cannot limit me to continue the work I’m doing for women and girls.
5. Do you feel like women rights are being treated as human rights? (If YES or NO, please provide reasons).
No, if women rights were being treated as human rights the prevalence of violence against women and girls would not happen. There is no prioritization of women’s right, gender equality, and equal opportunities.
6. Do you believe that the space for women rights activists/defenders in civil society is shrinking? If yes, why?
Yes, there are no active women’s rights defenders who advocate them with recognition though they have remarkable work.
7. Do you feel protected in the work that you do? (If YES or NO, please provide reasons)
There is no existing protection mechanism which is protected for women rights activists/defenders in civil society.
8. Over the tenure of your activism, do you feel like you have been rewarded or recognized for the work that you do? (If YES or NO, please provide reasons)
Yes, I have been recognized for my work. It is very rewarding because I am promoting and advocating for women’s right and helping the most vulnerable people including GBV/SGBV survivors and I have been recognized in my country and regional level.
9. What do you envision is the landscape for women human rights defenders in the region?
My vision is collaboration among women’s rights defenders to endure providing support, capacity building and resources all women rights defenders have a network with protection mechanism and to promote solidarity at local, regional and international level
10. What keeps you motivated to keep doing this work?
I had an interest in fighting for the rights of women and Girls, I wanted to make people’s lives better. It’s always been my wish to help people who are in need and to support GBV/SGBV Survivors and also to do prevention activities about GBV incidents and advocating the voiceless, every time when I see women’s suffering violence against women and girls motivated me to continue the work and fight I am doing and my spirituality keeps me motivated too, It brings me comfort.
