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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.
Press statement – Sennar State: Another Hotspot for Violence and Atrocities
On Saturday, 29th June, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) advanced deep into Sennar State, going to Sinja, taking over the “headquarters of the army’s 17th Infantry Division”. This was a decisive blow, marking the peak of clashes between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which began in the area on 25th June, and the emergence of a new conflict hotspot.
Urgent Call to Address Escalating Violence Against Women in Somalia
We at the Strategic Initiative for the Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network express profound concern about the escalating incidence of domestic violence in Somalia.
According to the 2020 Somalia Health and Demographic Survey, Gender Based Violence (GBV) remains a prevalent human rights violation faced by Somali women and girls, with 35 percent of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 reporting physical injuries inflicted by their husbands, over half of whom sustained severe injuries
El Fasher in Flames: Women Strive for Survival Amid Dire Conflict and Rights Abuses
The security situation in North Darfur State, particularly around El Fasher, has deteriorated beyond imagining. As of the 11th of May, the RSF has been waging a constant siege on the city. This siege has been marked by an increase in killings, sexual violence, theft, destruction of infrastructure, and looting. There have also been aerial bombardments on several villages and areas of El Fasher, and eight villages
79th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS BANJUL, THE GAMBIA 14 May–3June 2024
Honourable chairperson, honourable commissioners, excellencies, state delegates, distinguished representatives from human rights organizations, institutions and civil society, and all those concerned with the state of women’s rights in Africa, thank you for this opportunity to participate in this auspicious occasion by presenting the following statement.
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).
The Aftermath of Rape: Unwanted Pregnancies and Abandoned Children
Since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023, Sudanese women and girls have endured continuous and systematic acts of sexual violence.
Crimes including murder, rape, torture, enforced disappearance, abduction, forced confinement, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and enslavement have been weaponized in the conflict and used as tools for recruitment.
SUDAN – A YEAR OF WAR
On the morning of April 15th, we found ourselves unexpectedly confronted with a situation for which we were not prepared – the outbreak of war. We had to swiftly restructure and adapt. At the onset of the war, 35 SIHA Staff were based in Sudan, with our largest office located in Khartoum, and other staff located across the country in…
