Trailblazing Unity: Somalia Welcomes New Chapter of African Women Leaders Network
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The Women, Peace, and Protection joint project, implemented by UN Women, UNDP and UNSOM supported the launch the African Women’s Leadership Network (AWLN)-Somalia Chapter on 4th March 2024 in Mogadishu, Somalia. This milestone came because of leadership of the newly elected leaders of the AWLN Somalia Chapter and a concerted efforts from the UN agencies, Office of the First Lady, Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development-MoWHRD and other stakeholders including civil societies.
UN Women supported the CSOs in establishing an interim Steering Committee for facilitating the establishment including elections for the AWLN Somalia national chapter. Through the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD) and CSOs a wider call for applications was made inviting applications and expression of interest for joining the AWLN national chapter with a deadline of 31 October 2023. Following the application process, a wider CSOs meeting was held on 24 December 2023 for the election of office bearers of the AWLN.
Following the application process, a wider CSOs meeting was held on 24 December 2023 for the election of office bearers of the AWLN. The meeting through one-person-one vote elected Mme. Zahra Mohamed Ahmed who is also Executive Director of Somali Women Development Centre (SWDC) as the Chairperson of the AWLN Somalia Chapter for a duration of two years of 2024-2026. The meeting as well as the election was made possible with the financial and technical support from UN Women under the WPP joint project funded by the Peace Building Fund (PBF) and the Somalia Joint Fund (SJF-Germany and Sweden).
In her congratulatory remarks, the First Lady H.E Zahra Omar Hassan expressed her gratitude for the newly elected African Women’s Leadership Network (AWLN) Somalia Chapter and assured to work with its new leadership. She affirmed that her office is always accessible for the Somali women and will continue supporting the brave Somali women. She applauded UN Women for supporting this effort and urged to ensure this for the new leadership’s plan of execution.
H.E Amb. Mohamud Kaarshe-IGAD Head of Mission to the Federal Republic of Somalia underscored IGAD’s commitment to supporting AWLN Somalia Chapter and urged other entities to work with the Somalia chapter and advocate moving it forward. He highlighted IGAD’s strategy from 2023 to 2030 on gender equality and women’s political participation and assured that that the AWLN Somalia chapter could play a role crucial role in fulfilling those commitments. He also stated that IGAD’s work on access to justice where women face a lot of challenges. He emphasized that Somali women champions to be engaged all the time as it will create a learning space for fellow and younger girls.
In her congratulatory remarks Minister Rahma Guuliye applauded the First lady of Somalia Zahra Omar Hassan for her relentless dedication to promoting and empowering Somali women. Speaking on behalf of all Women’s Ministers of the five Federal Member States, she expressed jubilations on the successful establishment of the Somalia chapter of AWLN.
H.E Rahma applauded the integration of the Federal Government of Somalia into the East Africa Community (EAC) and commended President Hassan Sh. Mohamud’s leadership in this endeavor. She extended special appreciation to UN Women Somalia for their continuous support, and she urges for ongoing assistance.
H.E Rahma also acknowledged the unwavering efforts of Hon. Amina Hassan, Acting Minister for MoWHRD, and congratulates her recent visit to the office of the African Union Commission chairperson candidate, Fozia Yusuf Haji. Finally, she extended congratulations to the newly elected AWLN Somalia Chapter chairperson and wished her success in her new role.
Honorable Amina Hassan State Minister and Acting Minister of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development highlighted several recent milestones achieved by the Federal Government of Somalia.These include debt relief, the lifting of embargoes, efforts against Al-Shabaab, and ongoing work on the constitutional review process.
She praised H.E President Hassan S. Mohamud for his dedication and tireless efforts toward these achievements. Additionally, she praised H.E Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre for his continual endeavors to empower Somali women and welcomed the establishment of the AWLN Somalia Chapter.
Dr Syed Sadiq, Head of UN Women Somalia Office in his address appreciated H.E. First Lady Zahra Omar Hassan, Hon Amina Hassan, Acting Minister of Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, Hon Minister Rahma, IGAD, AU representatives, diplomatic missions, donors, joint program partners, AWLN Chairperson and Members for the commitment and tireless efforts in launch of the AWLN Somalia Chapter today.
Dr Sadiq provided a brief historic background of the AWLN and its linkages with Somalia’s provisional Constitution as well as the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 adopted in September 2022, which underlines the involvement of women in leadership and decision making. The Somalia AWLN Chapter is also built on the premise that Africa’s transformation can take place when women in leadership positions from community to national level have an opportunity to contribute to defining the economic, political, and social advancement of the country and the continent, Dr Syed emphasized. He offered UN Women and partner organization’s continued technical support to the AWLN in operationalization and achieving the objective.