25 years of resilience, courage, and commitment to achieving gender equality in the Greater Horn of Africa
When SIHA was brought to life by a group of women from across the region, in the mid-1990s it was a bright moment for women activists in the Horn of Africa. They saw in SIHA hope for a safe space where they would be able to define their agenda and build their own institution that would recognize and address their unique challenges.
With intent, SIHA is growing and contributing to women and girls learning and struggling for equality, justice, and peace across the region. For more than two decades, SIHA has been fighting against all odds as a feminist institution led by women operating in an alienated and impoverished region. This has been a turbulent journey, but also a joyful one.
To date, SIHA has spread her wings and continues to promote the message of gender justice in Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and South Sudan.
During this 25-year journey, SIHA has interacted with many valuable and great partners who have supported SIHA’s numerous interventions towards; Ending Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), Women and Girls’ Access to Justice, Peace and security, Social Protection and Economic Justice, Rights of Women and Girls on the Move, and Building Inclusive Women’s Movements.
On this International Women’s Day (2022), SIHA pledges to continue to be a part of the concerted efforts towards establishing gender equality as a crucial issue in national and regional agendas and at the heart of the development of peace and stability in the region.
The SIHA storybook and film is dedicated to our founders, their wisdom, unwavering commitment, and long-term vision. Hopefully one day the wise feminist leadership will find it’s place within the political leadership in this region.
Happy International Women’s Day 2022
Hala Al Karib
Regional Director
