Mogadishu – Somalia and international partners today marked a milestone anniversary for women’s inclusion with a reaffirmation of their commitment to ensuring the meaningful inclusion of women and girls in all of the country’s peace and security processes.
In a joint statement, representatives from the Federal government of Somalia, Finland, Denmark, civil society and the United Nations restated their “collective commitment to advancing women's leadership and participation in peacebuilding, security, and governance across Somalia.”
The representatives had gathered in Mogadishu to mark the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council’s adoption of its landmark Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), on 31 October 2000.
The resolution reaffirmed the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stressed the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.
“The United Nations in Somalia remains fully committed to working alongside the Federal Government, Federal Member States, parliamentarians, civil society, women-led organisations, the private sector, and our international partners to accelerate the realisation of Somalia’s Women, Peace, and Security commitments and ensure women’s equal voice, participation, and leadership in shaping the nation’s future,” said the Acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, EI-Khidr Daloum.
“As the world pauses to take stock of progress under the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, Somalia stands proud,” he added.
The event, themed ’25 Years of UNSCR: Delivering on the Promise of Women’s Leadership for Peace and Security in Somalia,’ was jointly organised by UN Women and the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), with support from the Finnish and Danish Embassies in Somalia, as well as the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development. It also featured a panel discussion and interactive sessions for the attendees.
Progress and achievements
Other speakers included the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development’s Director General, Mohamed Bashir Omar; Finland’s Deputy Head of Mission to Somalia, Nelli Mikkola; Denmark’s Deputy Head of Mission, Gertrud Kummel Birk; and UN Women’s Country Programme Manager, Rukaya Mohammed.
In their remarks, they highlighted Somalia’s progress on the WPS agenda, as well as the rich and deep history of Somali women’s leadership in peacebuilding.
They covered how, in 2000, Somali women peace activists – known as the “Sixth Clan” – demanded and won a seat at the historic Somali Peace and National Reconciliation Conference in Arta, Djibouti, and how their efforts helped lay the foundation for women’s ongoing participation in Somalia’s political and peace processes.
Achievements since then include the progressive securing of high-level positions at different levels across Somalia. These include in the Federal Cabinet and Parliament, Federal Member State assemblies and district councils, as well as leadership roles across public institutions. Other “firsts” that were cited include Somali women having reached posts such Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chairperson of the National Independent Electoral Commission and Deputy Police Commissioner.
Other achievements cited include Somalia’s adoption in 2022 of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Resolution 1325 – a move that was widely seen as a milestone for gender-responsive peace and security policies and programming in the country.
“The NAP’s six strategic pillars, from women’s political participation to protection from gender-based violence, access to justice, and economic empowerment, reflect Somalia’s deep commitment to translating international norms into national action,” the Ministry’s Director General, Mohamed Bashir Omar, said in his remarks to the gathering, later adding that a second NAP was currently under development.
“The discussions and recommendations emerging today will inform Somalia's second generation of the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security, and strengthen local, national, regional and global advocacy,” UN Women’s Ms. Rukaya told the attendees.
When noting challenges that remain in this area, speakers underlined how Somali women continue to face significant barriers such as insecurity, displacement, limited political participation and gender-based violence.
Following the panel discussion and interactive sessions, the representatives signed the joint statement calling for action. In it, they also called upon “the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations, and all development and humanitarian partners to strengthen their efforts toward the meaningful inclusion of women and girls in all peace and security processes.”
In addition, they also called for:
- Expanded roles for women in political, peace and security processes at local, regional, and national levels to ensure that decision-making reflects the voices and priorities of women and communities.
- Increased investment in localizing the WPS agenda, ensuring that women in remote, conflict-affected, and marginalized areas directly benefit from peacebuilding, security, and recovery initiatives.
- Transparent, inclusive and accountable implementation of Somalia's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, including regular public reporting and mechanisms for community and civil society feedback.
- Full inclusion of women in the security sector reform's decision-making processes, peace negotiations, and post-conflict reconstruction, recognising their vital contributions to building sustainable peace and security.
- Strengthened coordination and resource mobilization, led by the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development in collaboration with relevant Somali authorities and local and international partners, to ensure coherent national implementation of the WPS agenda at all levels of government.
- Enhanced protection and support mechanisms for women human rights defenders, peace builders, and survivors off conflict-related violence, ensuring access to justice, sexual and reproductive health and thighs and psychosocial services, and economic reintegration opportunities.
In addition to Mr. Omar, Ms. Nelli, Ms. Birk, Mr. Daloum signing the joint statement, Zahra Mohamed Ahmed signed it on behalf of a coalition of Somali civil society groups.
