March 8th is International women’s day and is celebrated all over the world, The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year, 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace. In Hargeisa, Somaliland SONSAF- Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum and Somaliland Ministry of Employments Social Affairs & Family and NOW organized a ceremony at Hargeisa University to commemorate. Notable guests were Vice president of Somaliland H.E Mr. Abdirahman Saylici, Ministers from Somaliland executive cabinet, EU Ambassador of Somalia and Somaliland, Ambassador of Sweden, Chairman of UCID Opposition Party, Deputy mayor of Hargeisa, NAGAAD Chairperson, SONSAF DG and NOW Chairperson. Contributing partners were NAFIS Network, NAGAAD, NOW, CSOs, UN and UCID political party.
This year SONSAF, MESAF and NOW took a different approach from previous years of public talks and marches, street cleaning, etc. They decided to showcase Somali women in different fields such as business, engineering, health sector, technology and women in politics. They broadcasted group discussions via live streaming and on local TV channels. The purpose of this was to encourage other young Somali girls to follow suit, instead of concentrating on the problems women face which are many, the hope is to encourage them and show them that they too can achieve this and more. This isn’t to say that the issues faced by women in Somaliland were ignored in fact at the events guest speakers spoke at length about the challenges. An emphasis was placed on women’s issues from different angles including socio-cultural problems, legal problems faced by the women of Somaliland.
The EU Ambassador took the opportunity to remind the government not to rely only on the women’s quota, the women’s quota is a tool and instrument to synthesize please you as political leaders do not forget to introduce women in the joint list in the political parties for the next Parliamentarian local elections. He said it was benefiting to have the presence of the Vice president as well as other political leaders to hear this and take heed.
Chairman of UCID Party said ” As the percentage of women is 55% out of the total of Somaliland population we need to educate our women, Faisal urged the women of Somaliland to also take action and vote for themselves and bring a women leader. He promised that as UCID Party that they will bring a female mayor to Hargeisa Local Council”.
The other most important talking point spoken about in the event was how important it is to pass the overdue rape bill into law from the executive cabinet of Somaliland, amendments were recently made by the parliament. It was also mentioned that rape cases have risen in Somaliland and that outlawing law is missing.
The closing remarks were made by H.E Abdirahman Saylici, whilst admitting that many social and political rights are missing in Somaliland for its female citizens, he added that the government is committed to the betterment of the lives of women in Somaliland. He finished by thanking the Ministry of Employment, Social and Family Affairs, NOW, Nagaad, Local and International NGOs and the various stakeholders who are involved in promoting the Women’s livelihood and rights in the country.
