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A Joint Appeal: Invest in Small Business Owners and Street Vendors for a Prosperous South Sudan
Today, 24th September 2025, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, in partnership with the South Sudan Women Entrepreneurs Association (SSWEA) and women-led organizations in South Sudan, convened a consultative meeting at Pyramid Hotel, Juba, that brought together women street vendors, women-led organizations, private sector representatives, government officials, and development partners.
From Catcalling to Femicide: A New Year’s Call for Justice to Protect Women’s Rights in Ethiopia
Despite the Ethiopian Constitution’s affirmation of gender equality and the existence of laws designed to protect women, violence against women continues to rise at an alarming rate. This crisis is perpetuated by distorted interpretations of religious teachings that justify harmful practices, alongside significant gaps in accountability and weak enforcement within the justice system.
SIHA Network Oral Statement at The 60th Session of the Human Rights Council
Now more than ever, the dire situation concerning women and girls in Sudan cries out for the world’s immediate attention. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network implores this Council to take decisive action against prevalent and systematic rates of conflict-related sexual violence, which are gripping the country, leveraged as a gendered weapon of war.
We stand firm against the enforced disappearance, torture and mass killing of women and children in North Darfur
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network strongly condemns the abduction and enforced disappearance of women and children by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated militia in and around El Fasher. Such conduct is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
A Lonely Road: Standing Up to Sexual Violence in Sudan
In this personal essay, Hala Alkarib talks about the documentation of sexual violence by military forces in Sudan.
Hala is the regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network). SIHA is a network of grassroots women’s groups throughout the greater Horn of Africa. Its primary focus is on addressing violence against women and girls and promoting justice and accountability for victims and survivors
Unsafe and Unheard: Women Market Vendors Demand Social Protection and Economic Justice
Women market vendors (WMVs) sustain households, feed communities, and power local economies, often as primary breadwinners and caregivers. Yet, the spaces that depend on their labour remain perilous and poorly governed.
Across nine (9) markets in Arua City, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network’s recen
SIHA, Together with 96 Other Civil Society Organizations Urgently Appeal for a 2 Year Extension on the Mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan
To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (Geneva, Switzerland)
Your Excellencies,
Ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session (8 Sep¬tem¬ber-8 October 2025), we, the un¬der¬si¬gned civil society orga¬ni¬sa¬tions, write to urge your delegation to support a mandate extension for the Inde¬pen¬dent International Fact-Fin¬ding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan.
The struggles and resilience of a Sudanese woman, in the conflict: Laila’s story
“After the war broke out, I was in a difficult psychological state due to fear and anxiety caused by the constant sounds of shelling and gunfire. The children at home were in a state of shock,’’ Laila says, with sadness filling her voice.
Originally from Khartoum, Laila was forced to flee her home after the war broke out on April 15, 2023.
