I have spent the last few hours researching, dissecting, and questioning how I could tackle a discussion about Somalia and woman’s rights in a authentic and human manner that will ensure you read this piece.
I begin with assumption that women ought to have an equal access to political, civil, social and economic rights.
All women have the right to be free from rape, sexual violence in all its form, abuse, discrimination, sexual policing as well autonomy over one’s body and space.
There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.
Many Somali women have started organizations, petitions, political marches, letter writing campaigns, appeals to religious/government authorizes to bring an attention to their plight, but all that will fall on deaf ears, if we (Somali men) are not willing to wake up from our collective comas, stand by their side. They are not property of Somali men but autonomous beings that have the right to live their lives free from physical, social, economic, political and cultural harm.
Now here is my question, what is next? Are we (Somali male) an enemy of the Somali women, and incapable of justice? Our beautiful Somali sister has rejected that narrative, and continue to love us unconditionally despite some Somali mens deliberate attempts to curb their freedom.
I personally acknowledge their pain and wounds as a consequence of a broken nation.
I understand that you (Somali sisters) have been through some evil shit political and social hard times, and sexual violence can no longer be an appropriate and Tolerated.
We defend you in the halls of academia and in all intellectuals spheres when they attack you and throw labels of ‘misogyny’ ‘rapist’ ‘inhumane’ ‘anti-woman’ at your chest like a dagger.
We stand and declare, ‘that is not the Somali man, but a mental and puritanical disease in the physical form of a Somali man. ‘Now its our turn to speak. How long will this continue? What can we do as a nation to heal our sisters?
Walahi as a Somali man it saddens me that there are not more men speaking up about this issue. We have a responsibility to speak up because every woman that is raped or attacked is someone’s wife, mother, daughter, relative etc and she could be your sister/mother/wife/neice/cousin etc but unfortunately the number of rapes committed by some of the Somali National Army (S.N.A) are so extremely high. What a shame!
It is time for Somali politicians, Somali media and the Somali public to speak out before its too late or it becomes an epidemic.
Somali politicians and media need to put the well-being of their daughters above that of political correctness and their own self interest, and it is shocking that they actually need to be reminded of this. It is an international embarrassment to Somalia as a nation 100% are Muslim and have one of the most beautiful culture in the world and at the same time their own young women are finding that their most basic rights, such as being able to go outside wearing normal clothes without being harassed, are slipping away.
Somali women are subjected to various forms of violence that include female genital mutilation, forced marriage and domestic violence, but rape is still the worst kind of aggression that women face.
There are many cases that go unreported because the victims feel ashamed to talk about what happened to them because they fear rape could bring shame upon them and this is because Somali society is very conservative and considers rape to be a disgrace that haunts women for the rest of their lives.
Several days ago, A young girl was kidnapped from front of her house than handcuffed, chained and to be tortured while imprisoned she was injected with unknown drug and raped by Amisom (African Peacekeeping troops) in Xalane (military base) after she had been abducted by some members of the Somalia national army (Here is a clip you can see as reference) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoHHQDZyQKE
She was not the first victim and this was not the first time it was happening, there was another girl called " Sabiriin Fuad Abdikadir" from university of Mogadishu who was forcibly Injected and she was ambushed by three armed men who dragged her at gunpoint to an abandoned building and they raped her there, unfortunately, she tried to cry for help but the armed men hit her with the barrels of their guns and they kicked her," she added. "After they raped her, they threatened to kill her if she informed anybody about what happened."
Meanwhile many women do not speak about rape for fear of societal reprisal, it is important to share their stories to help raise awareness and stop this from happening to other women.
The impunity contributes to the increasing rate of attacks against Somali women because the criminals know they can commit crimes without being punished. In reality, most criminals get away with their crimes and this is quite unfortunate. Criminals should be punished.
Any soldier/man who rapes a girl should be put to death.
These Criminals must be brought to justice and punished according to law because Somali girls cannot lose their honour while rapists are free and escape justice.
’’Rape is horrific, but to be raped when the only authorities you can turn to for justice are your rapists -- it's the most crushing powerlessness. But together I think we can bring the victims hope.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud is in a position to act to protect women from his own armed forces, if we together give him a big reason to crack down on this state violence. ‘’ *Laila is a British-Somali journalist based in Nairobi. Laila Ali
The violence against women increased in the country because of lack of rule protecting the civilians particularly the women and children who are the most vulnerable groups in the society. The last fifteen years of civil unrest in Somali there were excessive fighting between the armed factions in Somalia. And every village or district there was militia killing, abducting and torturing against the civilians. Rape was the top crime committed in this time to the innocent young girls. There was uncontrolled armed youth roaming in the streets villages who used to harm the girls. Every day number of girls suffer rape and other problems from the hands the armed militias. This brutal actions lasted more than fifteen years and still seems going in Somalia. Although there is weak government the young girls are target and suffer variety violence in the hands of the armed groups.
As we all aware Women go through a lot Pregnancy, period, breast cancer, rape, abuse harassment, abortion so we should respect them and protect them but not to harm/rape them.
’’We must unite. Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance, by any political leader or by any government.’’
-- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Somali Federal of government are not value since some members of the Somali National Forces (SNF) do not value women or their rights. Somali Federal Government needs to learn that until the people are valued and government supports the people, they will always be less effective in fighting for HUMAN Rights. The soldiers who are to enforce the law are breaking the laws causing havoc and pain to the weaker of their people (Woman).
I am calling on Somali Federal government, public bodies and others to take concerted action to end violence against Somali women including sexual violence, domestic violence and harmful practices including FGM (female genital mutilation.
