In Somalia and Somaliland we work on community security, enhancing people’s participation in peacebuilding processes and improving governance. In Mogadishu, women activists and journalists are monitoring and managing data on violence against women activists, and are setting up early warning mechanisms to reduce violence in target locations. They are also referring women to available gender-based violence (GBV) services and protection mechanisms. In Kismayo, the organisations responsible for maintaining and operating GBV referral pathways reviewed and strengthened their systems based on an updated mapping of GBV services.
Authorities in Kismayo also agreed to work closely with activists to strengthen women’s meaningful participation in decision-making. The offices of Jubaland State – including the office of the president, deputy president, speaker and ministries – agreed to engage bimonthly with women activists. These forums have helped influence the Ministry of Justice to change its policy regarding gender equality and women’s rights within the justice system. The forum discussions and insights have shed light on the issues faced by women activists, such as discrimination, access to justice and unequal treatment. As a result, the Ministry of Justice recognised the need for policy reforms and implemented changes to address the identified issues. This included creating specialised courts for handling GBV cases, establishing gender-sensitive training programmes for judicial personnel, and improving the overall accessibility and inclusivity of the justice system for women.
Saferworld’s peacebuilding project in Sool Region – an area contested by Somaliland and Puntland – is supporting inter-clan reconciliation and dispute resolution mechanisms to end cycles of revenge killings among pastoralist people living there.
Looking forward to 2023–24, Saferworld has been preparing for a project on participatory public policy and institution strengthening in Kismayo and Baidoa. We have carried out research in advance on how to apply Islamic-based programming to strengthen security and justice provision.
