Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoSOMALIA / WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: SOMALIA / WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
TRT: 03:58
SOURCE: UNSOM
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNSOM ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SOMALI / NATS
DATELINE: 07 NOVEMBER 2023, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
1. Wide shot, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing; Deputy Prime Minister for Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama; Minister for Women and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Dirie; First Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, Saadia Yasin Haji and other participants during the Women Peace and Security Global Open Day Event
2. Med shot, Laing, Dirie, Saadia and other participants at the event
3. Close up, Laing and Salah at the event.
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations:
“While there was a slight decline in the number of women parliamentarians from 24 per cent achieved in 2016 to 21 percent in the 2021-2022 electoral process, the good news is that for the first time in Somalia’s history, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of the People is a woman, Ms. Saadia Yasin Haji Samatar. Further, women Members of the 11th Federal Parliament secured leadership positions as Chairs, Deputy Chairs and members of Committees and Whips.”
5. Wide shot, participants engaging in discussions at the event
6. Med shot, participants engaging in discussions at the event
7. Close up, Dirie at the event
8. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister, Somalia:
“More than fifty per cent of Somalia’s population is made up of women and there is no way you can ignore that fact. They are equally competent as men; they are educated with vast experience to contribute to state-building efforts of Somalia.”
9. Wide shot, participants engaging in discussions at the event
10. Med shot, participants engaging in discussions at the event
11. Close up, participants engaging in discussions at the event
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations:
“On the 30 percent, this has to be enshrined in law. It is great to have the commitment but without a legally bound commitment, we know from experience in other countries, it is really hard to make progress. The countries in Africa that have done the best have got these kinds of quotas enshrined in laws.”
13. Close up, Head of UN-Women Somalia, Dr. Sayed Sadiq, at the event
14. Various shots, participants at the event.
15.SOUNDBITE (Somali) Khadija Mohamed Dirie, Minister for Women and Human Rights Development:
“Currently, the National Consultative Council does not include women. We want women to be represented at the National Consultative Council and we are working leaders at federal and state levels to achieve that.”
16. Wide shot, participants engaging in discussions at the event
17. Med shot, Dr. Sadiq and other participants engaging in discussions at the event
18. Close up, Dr. Sadiq at the event
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations:
“The National Consultative Council, with no representation of women really cannot be seen to be addressing the concerns of the country. So, we absolutely must make sure the voice of women is heard at that top forum – the NCC.”
20. Wide shot, Laing, Salah, Dirie, Saadia and other participants at the event
21. Close up, Salah at the event
22. Wide shot, Salah, Dirie, Saadia and other participants at the event
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations:
“Women are the root to solving these conflicts. So, we need you at the grassroots and all the levels up, acting as peacemakers. So, let us also remember to try and hear the voices of women.”
24.Various shots, participants who are present during the function
25. Various shots, participants engaging in discussions during the function.
26. Wide shot, high-ranking officials and the participants taking a group photo at the end of the function
Women are playing an increasingly high-profile role in bringing peace and security to Somalia, concluded participants in a UN-supported meeting today in Mogadishu called Global Open Day on Women, Peace and Security.
Catriona Laing, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, who was among the participants, along with Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Federal Minister for Women and Human Rights Development Khadija Mohamed Diriye, federal parliamentarians, civil society, and the wider United Nations family, spoke about the successes and challenges Somali women face in political participation.
Starting on a positive note, Ms. Laing highlighted the achievements.
“While there was a slight decline in the number of women parliamentarians from 24 per cent in 2016 to 21 per cent in the 2021/2022 electoral cycle, the good news is that for the first time in Somalia’s history, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of the People is a woman, Ms. Saadia Yasin Haji Samatar.”
Laing, who is also the Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, applauded the Federal Government of Somalia for adopting a National Action Plan to implement the UN Security
Council Resolution 1325 (on women, peace and security), which is essential in addressing hurdles to women’s participation in politics.
On behalf of the Federal Government, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Salah Ahmed Jama, in his remarks emphasised women’s vital role in the peacebuilding process.
“More than fifty per cent of Somalia’s population is made up of women and there is no way you can ignore that fact. They are equally competent as men; they are educated with vast experience to contribute to state-building efforts of Somalia,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
The participants identified three main areas for increased women’s participation in the near future – constitutional review process, National Consultative Council’s (NCC) proceedings, and women in conflict resolution.
The UN Special Representative appealed to use the ongoing constitutional review to advocate for the enactment of the 30 per cent women’s quota.
“On the 30 percent, this has to be enshrined in law. It is great to have the commitment, but without a legally binding commitment, we know from experience in other countries that it is really hard to make progress. The countries in Africa that have done the best have got these kinds of quotas enshrined in laws,” Laing said.
The Federal Minister for Women and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Diriye, spoke of the importance of including women in the National Consultative Council (NCC), which is a key decision-making body bringing together leaders from the Federal Government and Federal Member States.
“Currently, the National Consultative Council does not include women. We want women to be represented there, and we are working with the leaders at federal and state levels to achieve that,” said Minister Khadija.
The UN top official in Somalia confirmed that the United Nations was working with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Federal Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to ensure that women’s voices are heard in the NCC.
“The National Consultative Council, with no representation of women really cannot be seen to be addressing the concerns of the country. So, we absolutely must make sure the voice of women is heard at that top forum – the NCC,” said Laing.
She also highlighted the importance of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding in the country.
“Women are the root of solving conflicts. So, we need you at the grassroots and all the levels up, acting as peacemakers. So, let us also remember to try and hear the voices of women.”
The UN Special Representative reassured participants of UNSOM’s continued commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and called on all stakeholders to redouble collective efforts and strengthen collaboration in support of Somalia’s WPS Agenda using existing mechanisms.
Adopted in 2000, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 called for annual Global Open Days to acknowledge the importance of women’s role in prevention and conflict resolution, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction.
The gatherings are an opportunity for women to engage with political leaders, policymakers, international partners and activists to advocate for the implementation of the resolution.
