(Somali transition below)
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.
The President’s decision, as stated in his recent decree, that “the crime of rape shall be adjudicated by the competent courts of the country and that those accused of committing such crimes should receive the legal punishment they deserve,” is a crucial move towards ensuring the protection of women and girls’ basic rights and justice. His directive to the Chief of Police and the Attorney General “to ensure that those accused of rape are brought before the competent courts, rather than resolving such cases through alternative systems,” marks significant progress towards justice for women and girls.
According to the Somaliland National Human Rights Commission 2023 Annual Report, rape cases have been on the rise, with statistics showing an increase of 22.8% in 2023. The report indicates 752 reported rape cases in 2023, of which only 271 reached the prosecution office, meaning 63.9% of cases were resolved outside the judicial system.
Activists and civil society have also documented the various ways traditional justice mechanisms disadvantage women, particularly survivors of sexual violence. These traditional systems often prioritize the protection of the clan or community’s reputation over individual justice, resulting in compensation payments or forced marriages that fail to address the survivors’ rights directly.
Furthermore, traditional courts, dominated by male leadership, operate with less scrutiny and are susceptible to gender biases, making them inadequate for delivering justice in sexual and gender-based violence cases in Somaliland.
This significant step must therefore be supported by additional measures to ensure its success. Enforcing protective laws, such as the progressive Anti-Rape Act of 2018, and enhancing gender-responsive services will bolster the effectiveness of the presidential decree in safeguarding women and girls and ensuring their access to justice.
Additionally, we put forward the following recommendations:
- We call on the Somaliland Government to enforce the 2018 Sexual Offenses Bill (SOB).
- We urge the appointment of women in strategic leadership and decision-making roles within the Police Force, Judiciary, and Parliament.
- We advocate for comprehensive survivor-centered and gender-responsive training for all staff within law enforcement and judiciary sectors to minimize re-traumatization of survivors seeking justice, and to eliminate institutionalized intimidation, discrimination, and stigmatization of survivors.
- We emphasize the critical need for robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the implementation of anti-SGBV laws and policies. Transparent reporting on progress and challenges faced in prosecuting SGBV cases is essential to hold authorities accountable and ensure continuous improvement in the protection of women’s and girls’ rights.
Signatories:
- Disability Protection Association (DPA)
- HAWO-Group
- Isir Girls Association
- Marginalized Groups Advocacy Network (MAGAN)
- NAGAAD Network
- Siraad Initiative
- Somaliland Environmental and Protection Association (SEPDO)
- Somaliland Women Lawyers Association (SWLA)
- Somaliland Women Research and Advocacy Group (SOWRAG)
- Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network)
- Voice of Somali Minority Women Organization (VOSOMWO)
- Women Action and Advocacy Progress Organization (WAAPO)
- Women Human Rights and Environmental Education Association (WHEEA)
- Women Rights Advancement and Protection Association (WRAPA)
- Women Rehabilitation and Development Organization (WORDA)
War Saxaafadeed
Ururada Xaquuqda Haweenka Oo Bogaadiyay Tallaabooyin Cusub ee Lagu Xaqiijinayo Isla Xisaabtanka Iyo Cadaalad keenista dhib Gaystayaasha Kufsiga, Kuna Baaqay In Tallaabo Dheeraad Ah Laga Qaado.
Anagoo ah ururada xuquuqul insaanka ee haweenka Somaliland ee aan ku saxeexannahay magacooda hoos ku xusan iyo difaacayaasha haweenka xuquuqul insaanka ee Somaliland waxaanu qiraynaa soona dhawaynaynaa talaabada wanaagsan ee uu madaxweyne Muuse Biixi qaaday ee uu ku xaqiijinayo isla xisaabtanka iyo cadaalada lagula xisaabtamayo dadka kufsiga geysta, falkaas oo ah fal-dambiyeed si aan xad lahayn u saameeya haweenka iyo hablaha yaryar.
Go’aanka Madaxweynaha, ee sheegay wareegtada uu dhawaan soo saaray, ee ahaa in “Danbiga kufsiga ay u garnaqi doonaan Maxkamadaha awoodda u leh ee dalka oo kali ahi, isla markaana ciddii lagu soo oogo dembiyadaas la marsiiyo ciqaabta sharciga ah ee ay muteysan karto”, waa tallaabo muhiim ah oo loo qaaday dhanka wanaagsan ee ilaalinta xuquuqda aasaasiga ah ee haweenka iyo gabdhaha iyo caddaaladda.
Amarka Madaxweynaha ee ku wajahan Taliyaha Booliska iyo Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Qaranka “si loo hubiyo in kuwa kufsiga lagu soo eedeeyay la horkeeno maxkamadaha awooda u leh, halkii kiisaskan oo kale lagu xalin lahaa habab kale,” waxay muujineysaa horumar la taaban karo oo laga gaaray dhanka cadaaladda haweenka iyo gabdhaha.
Sida lagu sheegay warbixin sanadeedka komishanka xuquuqal insaanka qaranka Somaliland ee 2023, kiisaska kufsiga ayaa kor u kacay, iyadoo tirokoobku muujinayo inay korodhay 22.8% sanadkan 2023. , taasoo la micno ah in 63.9% kiisaska lagu xaliyay si ka baxsan nidaamka garsoorka. Waxaa intaa dheer, difaacayasha xuquuqda haweenka iyo bulshada rayidka ahi waxay diiwaangeliyeen siyaalo badan oo nidaamka dhaqanku ee caddaaladdu ay waxyeello ugu geystaan haweenka, gaar ahaan kuwa loogaystay xadgudubyada galmada. Sida in ‘lacag’ magdhow ahaan loogu bixiyo dhacdada kufsiga – oo inta badan aan ahayn mid toos loosiinayo dhibanta laakiin loo qaybiyo qoyskeeda ama qabiilkeeda – ama isu guurinta dhibanta iyo dembiilaha si looga hortago isku dhac u dhexeeya qoysaska labada dhinac, taas oo ah cadaalad daro weyn.
Waxaa intaa dheer, maxkamadaha dhaqanka ayaa ah kuwa sameeya baaritaan aad u yar, sidaas darteed eexda jinsiga ayaa si sahlan u saameyn karta natiijooyinka, iyadoo kuwa awoodda ku leh nidaamka dhaqanka ay yihiin rag kali ah. Sababahaas iyo qaar kale oo badan dartood, maxkamadaha dhaqanka iyo hababka gar-qaadka dacwadaha xad gudubyada galmada ee dhaqanku ma qaadi karaan caddaalad dhab ah oo loo maro haweenka iyo hablaha la kulma tacadiyada galmada iyo xad-gudubyada kale ee xuquuqdooda asaasiga ah.
Tallaabadan muhiimka ah ee madaxweynuhu qaaday waa in lagu taageeraa habab is kaaba ah si loo xaqiijiyo guusheeda. Dhaqangelinta sharciyada, sida sharcigii ka hortagga kufsiga ee la ansixiyay 2018, iyo kordhinta adeegyada wax ka qabashada jinsiga ayaa si weyn u wanaajin doonta hindisayaasha wareegtada madaxweynaha si loo gaaro xal waara oo lagu ilaaliyo xuquuqda haweenka iyo gabdhaha iyo in la hubiyo inay helaan caddaalad.
Haddaba, waxaanu soo jeedinaynaa talooyinka soo socda:
- Waxaan Madaxweynaha ugu baaqaynaa in uu dhaqan geliyo sharciga dembiyada galmada ee 2018 (SOB).
- Waxaan ku boorineynaa in haweenka loo magacaabo hoggaanka istaraatiijiyadeed iyo jagooyinka go’aan qaadashada ee Ciidamada Booliska, Garsoorka iyo Baarlamaanka.
- Waxaan ku baaqaynaa in tababar dhamaystiran oo ku salaysan badbaadada iyo jinsiga la siiyo shaqaalaha heerarka kala duwan ee hay’adaha fulinta sharciga iyo garsoorka, si loo yareeyocaqabadaha dhibanayaasha ka haysta marinka caddaaladda.
- Waxaan carrabka ku adkeyneynaa baahida muhiimka ah ee hababka dabagalka adag iyo qiimeynta si loola socdo hirgelinta sharciyada iyo siyaasadaha lidka ku ah SGBV. Warbixin hufan oo ku saabsan horumarka iyo caqabadaha hortaagan dacwad oogista kiisaska SGBV waa lama huraan si mas’uuliyiinta lagula xisaabtamo oo loo xaqiijiyo horumar joogto ah oo lagu sameeyo ilaalinta xuquuqda haweenka iyo gabdhaha
Ururada
- Disability Protection Association (DPA)
- HAWO-Group
- Isir Girls Association
- Marginalized Groups Advocacy Network (MAGAN)
- NAGAAD Network
- Somaliland Environmental and Protection Association. (SEPDO)
- Somaliland Women Lawyers Association (SWLA)
- Somaliland Women Research and Advocacy Group- (SOWRAG)
- Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network)
- Voice of Somali Minority Women Organization (VOSOMWO)
- Women Action and Advocacy Progress Organization (WAAPO)
- Women Human Rights and Environmental Education Association, (WHEEA)
- Women Rights Advancement and Protection Association. (WRAPA)
- Women Rehabilitation and Development Organization. (WORDA)
