Somalia

Somalia has a population estimated at 9.1 million (UN, 2009) with a total area of 637,657sq km (246,201 sq miles). The capital is Mogadishu. The major language are Somali, Arabic, Italian and English.

Somalia continues to experience violence and unrest. The collapse of the Somali Government in 1991 destroyed public institutions and governance structures. In October 2004, Somalia elected a President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and formed an interim government, known as the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs).

In 2007 the African Peacekeeping force AMISOM was deployed in Somalia. As of 2011 Kenya had entered Somalia to try and push out Al Shabab, the most prominent insurgent group, who have effectively held Mogadishu under seige since 2009 (BBC, 2009). 2011 saw the retreat of Al Shabab from Mogadishu, fighting however remains rampant and the country is still without a permanent National Government (CIA Factbook, 2012).

Violence against women, including domestic violence, rape and female genital mutilation (FGM) have been on the increase.

Somalia has not ratified The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Somalia does not have a National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325)
Somalia had a UN peacekeeping mandate: United Nations Operation in Somalia I (UNOSOM I) from April 1992 to March 1993 and United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOMA II) from March 1993 to March 1995.

Sources:BBC; Amnesty International; UNIFEM

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May 17, 2013 (CNN)
SOMALIA: Inside the Rape Crisis Center Thats Helping Somalia's Women In a classroom tucked away from the world in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, students practice spelling. Ranging in age from 6 to 11, these girls all have one thing in common: They have either been raped or suffered through the rape of a loved one.
May 11, 2013 (allAfrica)
SOMALIA: The First Lady On Violence Against Women Asha Haji Elmi was born in Somalia in 1962 where she graduated from the Somali National University in Mogadishu. She e also holds a Master's degree in business administration from the International University of the United States. And 'the wife of Abdi Farah Shirdon, current Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia in August 2012 and is herself Somali Federal Member of Parliament, one of the few MPs of the transition period (2004-2009) to be re-elected. She'was the founder of the Association for the salvation of Women and Children (SSWC) in 1992, at the height of the civil war, and in 2000 promoted the Sixth Clan Association, movement for the promotion of Somali women in the political life of the country. It has also committed to the banning of female genital mutilation, a practice widespread in Somalia. She is currently working in Somalia against sexual violence against women and held a discussion on the topic during the London conference on Somalia in which, for Italy, was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino.
April 5, 2013 (TrustLaw)
SOMALIA: Somalia and U.N. to Tackle Rampant Rape in Mogadishu Camps The Somali government plans to move displaced people to more secure camps in the capital Mogadishu and set up military courts to tackle “rampant” rape, a senior United Nations official said Thursday.
April 4, 2013 (Voice of America News )
SOMALIA: UN - Somalia Needs Stronger Judiciary to Fight Sexual Violence Somalia's new government has to build a stronger and more transparent judicial system in order to prosecute perpetrators of sexual violence against women, according to a senior United Nations official. The call comes as Somali government officials, judges and diplomats deliberate on how to enhance the country's judiciary.
March 26, 2013 (BBC News)
SOMALIA: Displaced Somalis Abused and Raped - Human Rights Watch Internally displaced people in Somalia are suffering sexual violence and other forms of abuse, reports the Human Rights Watch (HRW) campaign group.

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RESOURCE: Hostages of the Gatekeepers, Human Rights Watch, March 2013 | Download PDF
In Search of Safety and Solutions: Somali Refugee Adolescent Girls at Sheder and Aw Barre Camps, Ethiopia Aw Barre Camps, Ethiopia, Women's Refugee Network, August 2012 | Download PDF
Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security, NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security (NGOWG), February 2012 | Download PDF
Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security, NGOWG, December 2011, NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security (NGOWG), December 2011 | Download PDF
UN Independent Expert on Somalia Calls for Protection of Civilians & Accountability For Human Rights Perpetrators, August 10, 2010

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BLOG: The Assault on Women, Online Dialogues & Blogs, , 08 February 2013
DISCUSSION: Combating Rape in Somalia: Women at a Crossroads, Online Dialogues & Blogs, , January 30th, 2013
OPINION: Somalia's Taboo-Breaking First Woman Foreign Minister, Online Dialogues & Blogs, , 12th November 2012
BLOG: Somali Women Entrepreneurs Carve a Niche in Boston, Online Dialogues & Blogs, , May 6, 2011
BLOG: Militarization Specter And Its Impact On Somali Women, Online Dialogues & Blogs, , May 3, 2011

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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace, and Security, MAP , December 2011
Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security, NGOWG, January 2010 (NGO), MAP , January 1, 2010
Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security, NGOWG, November 2009 (NGO), MAP , November 1, 2009

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Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)
SIHA is advocating for social change and gender equality for men and women in the Horn of Africa and working specifically on: gender equality, eliminating violence against women and girls, promoting human rights, peace building and conflict transformation, enhancing women's leadership as well as political participation and production and dissemination of knowledge.

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