Subscribe to our newsletters

Sign up to our morning and evening newsletters for Garowe's well curated list of our daily highlights.

Garowe Online
  • Home
  • Somalia
  • World
    • Africa
  • National Security
  • Environment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Garowe Online
  • Home
  • Somalia
  • World
    • Africa
  • National Security
  • Environment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Garowe Online
No Result
View All Result

Somaliaโ€™s women must succeed for Somalia to succeed

Author
03/11/2022
in Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
5
SHARES
81
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

๐๐˜ ๐Š๐€๐“๐„ ๐…๐Ž๐’๐“๐„๐‘

You might also like

Somaliaโ€™s next President: Here is our choice

We reject intimidation against free press

In Somaliaโ€™s looming famine, aid agencies may carry blame

An Economist article last year, โ€œWhy Nations that Fail Women Failโ€, caught my eye. It reported that peace lasts longer when women are at the negotiation table, whereas societies that oppress women are far more likely to be violent and unstable.ย 

Despite some progress, Somaliaโ€™s gender inequality remains alarmingly high – the fourth highest in the world. Any country loses if it ignores the skills, experience and voice of over half its population. Whereas a society which makes the most of the potential of both its men and women gains immensely, not least in terms of greater stability, economic growth and political development.ย 

Since I became Ambassador just over a year ago, I have been fortunate to meet many inspirational Somali women โ€“ strong women using their voice to seek a more equal society.ย 

But their stories of struggle and hardship demonstrate the many challenges which confront women and girls here. For example, tragically, Somalia has the highest rate of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the world, with 99% of girls subjected to the practice. Somalia also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with a shocking 829 out of every 100,000 women giving birth. Every child should have an education, yet 72% of Somali girls in rural areas have never attended school.ย 

We must acknowledge these challenges and recommit to overcoming them – particularly today, on International Womenโ€™s Day (IWD). This yearโ€™s IWD theme is โ€œTime to Break the Bias,โ€ encouraging everyone to tackle the issue of gender bias and stereotypes which prevent women from achieving their potential.ย 

As the British Ambassador, I am deeply committed to continuing to support progress for women and girls in Somalia, in particular educating girls, empowering women and girls and ending violence. Helping to ensure they experience the change they need and deserve has been one of my priorities since I arrived here. (A good start in this political season would be more women in politics).

In November last year, I hosted a roundtable with womenโ€™s rights activists to mark โ€˜16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violenceโ€™. These dedicated activists underlined the importance of legislation to protect womenโ€™s rights. I sincerely hope that 2022 will mark the year that Somalia passes the Sexual Offences Bill and the Anti-FGM Bill, to name just two critical legal measures.

Encouragingly I have also met Somali men who are campaigning for a more equal society. For example, Ahmed Hassan Sadiq is one of the Goodwill Ambassadors championing increased political participation. Another is journalist Hassan Istilla, an Anti-FGM champion supporting initiatives like the Ifrah Foundationโ€™s โ€˜Dear Daughter Campaignโ€™ (which appeals to parents to stop cutting their daughters).ย 

Women and girls are at the heart of our UK-funded programmes – from health, to education and politics. For example, since 2016 we have helpedย over 420,000 women give birth with skilled birth attendants, while over 750,000 children have been immunised thanks to UK support.ย 

We have also supported overย 100,000 marginalised adolescent girls to access primary school in the last year. As part of a jointly funded project with the US, I was delighted to meet some of them virtually last summer at a local Primary School in Mogadishu.ย 

We, alongside our US partners, are also supporting businesses run by women in a range of sectors, including agriculture, fisheries and renewable energy. In Galkayo for example, we are supporting women-owned co-operative farms to install cost effective solar powered irrigation systems, to mitigate the impact of climate change. This has enabled them to cultivate 40% more land, create new jobs and reduce energy costs by around $700 per month.

The challenge is huge. However, the goal is clear: Somalia will not succeed unless its women have the chance to achieve their potential. As we celebrate this important day, I can assure all Somalis that the UK remains committed to doing what we can to support in this critical area.ย 

Kate Foster is the British Ambassador to Somalia

Tags: British EmbassyKate Fostersomalia

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

Share2Tweet1
Previous Post

Deni earns top mark for compromising on PSF leadership

Next Post

SNA troops make major gains against Al-shabaab in Somalia

Recommended For You

Somaliaโ€™s next President: Here is our choice

05/14/2022
Somaliaโ€™s next President: Here is our choice

EDITORIAL: Somaliaโ€™s next President: Here is our choiceย Somaliaโ€™s Super Sunday is finally with us. And the country expects to have a new leader in place before people head...

Read more

We reject intimidation against free press

04/22/2022
We reject intimidation against free press

EDITORIALย -ย Garowe Online this week stands firm in rejecting an attempt by federal government agents to intimidate its reporting on political events in the country. On Thursday, we were...

Read more

In Somaliaโ€™s looming famine, aid agencies may carry blame

04/16/2022
In Somaliaโ€™s looming famine, aid agencies may carry blame

EDITORIAL- Somalia and its regional neighbors have for months, if not years, been facing erratic weather, including lower than normal rainfall, prolonged droughts, and the onset of pests...

Read more

Fahad Yasin defines chaos in Somalia, he should stay away

04/09/2022
Fahad Yasin defines chaos in Somalia, he should stay away

EDITORIAL | Fahad Yasin, the erstwhile spy chief in Somalia, is a man who leaves dirt on his trail. A former journalist at Al-Jazeera Arabic, his stint as...

Read more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Somali journalists face threats for covering stories

Somali journalists face threats for covering stories

02/17/2022
ISIS Imposes High Tax on Businesses in Somaliaโ€™s Capital

ISIS Imposes High Tax on Businesses in Somaliaโ€™s Capital

01/29/2022
Hassan Sheikh visits Somali Commandos training in Turkey

Hassan Sheikh visits Somali Commandos training in Turkey

07/06/2022

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Business
  • Business
  • Cartoons
  • Editorial
  • Environment
  • National Security
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Somalia
  • World
Garowe Online

The independent news Web site GaroweOnline.com is the online sister publication of Radio Garowe, a community radio station based in Garowe, the State capital of Puntland, a self-governing region in northern Somalia.

CATEGORIES

  • Africa
  • Business
  • Business
  • Cartoons
  • Editorial
  • Environment
  • National Security
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Somalia
  • World

BROWSE BY TAG

Abdirahman Abdishakur Abiy Ahmed africa Africom Al-Shabaab Al shabaab alshabaab AMISOM ATMIS Biden Danab election elections Eritrea Ethiopia Fahad Yasiin farmajo featured federal Hassan Shiekh Journalist Kenya Madeira mogadishu NISA Oil Parliament Police Puntland roble Rooble Said Dani SNA somalia somaliland Tigray Turkey UAE Ukrain UN US USA Villa Somalia WFP world

Copyright ยฉ GAROWONLINE All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Somalia
  • World
    • Africa
  • National Security
  • Environment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
  • Sports

Copyright ยฉ GAROWONLINE All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In