This Tweet Chat addressed the overall challenges and opportunities for the upcoming indirect election in 2021-2022, the importance of having Somali women’s quota, and why women’s representation in the Somali parliament matters. It also analyzes whether this electoral process will lead to an increased or decreased representation for women considering the prospects of women. In addition, it addressed the key impediments and/or barriers for women to secure representation in the political arena at all levels.

The panelists and some of the participants recommend concrete strategies that would ensure women’s representation at all levels of government. For further information, please visit @sgem2016 with the hashtags: #WomenWin2021 #ElectWomen #StandWithSomaliWomen #ParadigmShift

The fourth forum entitled Complexities around Ratifying Somalia’s Constitution: Cutting through the Rhetoric was held on June 27,  2021. Panelists were asked to discuss and reflect on issues and challenges surrounding the Somalia Provisional Constitution, and provide their perspectives on why it has yet to be ratified.

The Panelists further analyzed the impediments to a clear and inclusive constitutional review process given there is a parliamentary committee, National Independent Constitution Review Commission, Federal Ministry of Constitution, and state-level ministries involved in the review process as well as some of the social and political barriers to the completion of the Somali Constitution.  Panelists also addressed ways to get a Somali-owned constitutional process, whether it is realistic and achievable to complete the constitutional review process by June 2022, and how inclusive constitutional ratification be carried out in the absence of Somaliland, even if all the contentious issues are agreed upon. The Forum concluded with the way forward for an inclusive, transparent, and gender-sensitive constitutional review process, followed by comments, and questions from participants.

Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM) Founder & Chairwoman Zainab M. Hassan was one of the Briefers of the United Nations Security Council at a videoconference meeting on Nov 23rd on the situation in Somalia focusing on women participation in many aspects of the society, particularly political participation. The briefers included James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, and Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of Somalia.

Among other things, Zainab Hassan clearly pointed out some of the obstacles faced by women in the electoral process, including outright opposition to the quota by some religious leaders, traditional elders and male politicians, as well as lack of access to financial resources.

You can watch the full briefing at the link below:

SGEM concluded its #UHiiliHaweenkaCampaign w/ a big confrence in collaboration w/ @Soyden_network & SWLI 2 create a common agenda 4

 Women. The conference brought together women political leaders, aspirants, civil society advocates & experts.

In all Somali peace talks and parliamentary elections/selections, women are not given enough share of the seats allocated for them. They are being denied to take part in the political leadership of their nations. This has sommething to do with culture and to some extent hardline Islamic misinterpretations. We should raise our voices to combat this injustice. The era of descrimination is gone, never to come back. We need a new nation. We need a new Somalia.

Women are a strength to build

They are a force to produce

No one can ignore their role

They must be given a chance

Women are strength to build

We need them to be in politics

We need them to represent us

We need them to be in history

It is their right to become leaders

It is their right to run this nation

It is their right to fight injustices

It is their right to seek equality

Women are a strength to build

They are a force to produce

No one can ignore their role

They must be given a chance.

https://www.facebook.com/UHiilliHaweenka/videos/504588197459810

This Tweet Chat explored the impact the current Provisional Constitution has had on Somalia’s political processes, and its positive or negative impacts on Somalia’s current political gridlocks, as well as how the absence of constitutional court in the country contributes to the reoccurring political disagreements among the leaders. It also stressed how the current form of government, where there’s a president and prime minister adds to the reoccurring political stalemates. It also emphasized that the contested articles in the Provisional Constitution to be addressed, and who should lead that process.
The full Tweet Char information can be found on @sgem2016 with the hashtags: #RuleOfLaw #ConstitutionalCourt #LeanOnConstitution #QaranWaaQaynuun

Somali Women Campaign for 30% Quota

Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM) Board of Directors, members, Somali women leaders and women across sectors, the civil society, and the Somali public in general are alarmed and shaken by the outbreak of violence in Mogadishu and Benadir region that had caused some casualties and internal displacement of women and children on April 25-27, 2021.

In this backdrop, SGEM, a movement that advocates for Somali women’s socio-economic and political rights and representation in the public decision-making arena and promotes genuine reconciliation and conflict resolution in Somalia convened a virtual forum entitled Somali Women’s Voices on April 28, 2021 for Somali women leaders, and women across sectors to discuss the situation and come up with relevant position statements and recommendations.

The April 28th session hereby referred to as the Forum had speakers and participants from both inside the country and across the globe. The panel speakers and participants included well known iconic women leaders, politicians, intellectuals, and representatives from different sectors of the society.

The Forum agreed upon the following position statements and recommendations:

• The Forum condemns the use of violence by all parties under any circumstances that have caused instability and displacement of women, children, people with disability and other vulnerable citizens;
• The Forum welcomed the statements by Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and South West Federal Member States (FMSs), and the Prime Minister that supported the continuation of the electoral process to be based on the September 17, 2020 electoral model;
• Somali women will not be bystanders on the recent politically motivates violence and the current electoral impasse, and will take active role in brokering peace and reconciling the National Consultative Council (NCC) in collaboration with neutral leaders from civil society, religious leaders, and respected traditional elders;
• Somali women call for the removal of all armed forces belonging to the government and opposition sides from residential areas, so families can return and stay in their homes without fear of violence and intimidation;
• The leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and FMSs need to come together to end the political gridlock, show compassion in the spirit of Ramadan for their citizens and country, resolve their personal and political differences, and stop the polarizing rhetoric;
• The Forum recognizes the urgent need for collective communal healing and social repair in Somalia;
• The Forum calls on the leaders to proactively continue the dialogue until all the contentious issues on the implementation of the September 17th electoral modal are resolved;
• The Forum recommends consensus based, inclusive, and fair election that leads to a peaceful transfer of power;
• The Forum realizes that political commitment is essential to ensuring the agreed upon minimum 30% quota for women by readopting the 2016 electoral mechanism which safeguarded the women’s quota.
• The Forum acknowledges the need for massive civic education on peaceful coexistence using traditional and social media;
• The Forum urges journalists and social media users to refrain from igniting conflict and misinforming the public

Given the multiple reconciliation efforts in Somalia in the past 30 years with little impact, SGEM convened this forum to be an in-depth discussion on substantive reconciliation. The forum titled Substantive Reconciliation in Somalia was held on April 10, 2021, and it was one of the timely topics for SGEM’s Forum for Solutions. The panelists for this forum included Abukar Arman, Somali Writer and Former Diplomat, Dr. Habon Abdulle, Executive Director of Ayada Leads, Suldan Abdisalam Ahmed, Peace and Conflict Studies Scholar & Traditional Elder, and Moderator and Discussant, Fowsia Abdulkadir, Chairwoman & Founding Member, Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM).

The  Panelists discussed the impediments to a substantive reconciliation in Somalia given there are multiple dimensions to reconciliation whether political or social, what kind is needed in Somalia, and which one should be tackled first. The Panelists also explored the barriers to substantive reconciliation and the missing link to reconciliation in Somalia. The discussions also focused on the required sequencing of reconciliation efforts, and the actors that should lead these reconciliation efforts that Somalia needs.

The role religious leaders, women, and young people can play in substantive reconciliation, and ways in which we can get Somali-owned substantive reconciliation were highlighted. The Panelists made their concluding remarks on the way forward in realizing comprehensive, and inclusive reconciliation in Somalia. The forum closed with participants asking relevant questions to the panelists to address, and adding their own reflections on the topic.

Genuine reconciliation is in dire need in Somalia as a post-conflict society. SGEM held its first Somalia Tweet Chat on a Paradigm Shift: Somali Women’s Leadership in Reconciliation. SGEM brought together 13 dynamic tweet chat panelists including experts, practitioners of different fields, researchers, and activists.

The Panelists shared some of the reasons a comprehensive reconciliation is more elusive in Somalia, and the leadership role Somali women can take in genuine reconciliation. They further discussed some traditional and homegrown reconciliation mechanisms that will help Somalis in their journey to reconciliation. Furthermore, Panelists also highlighted ways to integrate all the fragmented efforts at the grassroots level and make them more coherent, strategic, and impactful.

The panelist also highlighted how Somali women and society as a whole can heal from past traumatic experiences and some strategies that helped the panelists in their healing journey. It concluded with some gendered perspectives Somali women can bring to bear in the broader Somali reconciliation agenda.

Hashtags: #HeshiisDhabAh #SherosForPeace #CollectiveHealing #ParadigmShift