SOMALIA: A Colourful Culmination of the 16 Days Campaign

Galkayo (RBC Radio):- THE curtain fell in style 10th December 2010 on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign in Galkayo Town, Puntland State Somalia, when hundreds of youth and their supporters draped in red and white head bands gathered for the final match of a soccer tournament organized to commemorate the campaign.
The event organized by Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (GECPD) with the support of UNHCR brought together an estimated 800 youth drawn from the IDP and host community in Galkayo. Dubbed the Galkayo Peace Soccer tournament, the event featured 16 junior teams from all sectors of Galkayo including the IDP community. The final match featured Daqaale Football Club and Siinay Football Club with the later beating the former 1 goal to nill to clinch the tournament trophy. The winning team received a trophy and cash prizes while the runners-up received a cash prize. Medals were also awarded to the best player and top scorer of the tournament while all participating teams received jerseys.

The tournament which officially opened on 25th November 2010 -at yet another colorful ceremony- was one of the four major activities organized by GECPD to commemorate the 16 Days campaign this year. Participants at the closing ceremony included Deputy Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government Abdullahi Mohammed Ali, the Minister on Internal Affairs Abdishakur Sheikh Hassan, the Minister of Environment for the Puntland State administration Abdighani Burhan Cade, Somali Football Federation Vice Chairman Abdirashid Hassan Hirsi Bhaki, a representative of UNHCR, Mudug Deputy Governor Bashir Mire and Galkayo Municipal Mayor Abdulrahman Hajji Hassan. The objective was to rally the youth towards efforts to promote peace and social co-existence by drawing the linkage between the lack of peace, the resulting insecurity and the rampant incidences of Gender Based Violence particularly rape and violations against children in Galkayo IDP settlements. All speakers encouraged youth to play an active role in restoring peace, saying that is the only way they can secure a better future for themselves.

This year's international theme of the 16 days campaign was “Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women” GECPD marked the campaign under a localized related theme “Peace, Security and an end to Gender Based Violence”. GECPD utilized this localized theme to also popularize UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and remind Puntland authorities of their obligations regarding the same. Participants of the tournament draped white and red bands to symbolize peace and an end to blood shed and violence against women and vulnerable children.

The venue of the soccer tournament was the Galkayo Youth Resource Center for Peace- a facility being constructed by GECPD with the support of Oxfam Novib, Diakonia, Spazio Solidale and Marie Saibene and other individual donors- to provide recreational and talent nurturing opportunities for the youth. This was borne out of the need to enhance the participation of youth in the promotion of peace and community development while protecting them from social debauchery. The Center has a football pitch, a basketball court, a library, a social hall, a youth canteen, a guiding and counseling room and 4 office rooms. Although it is still under construction, the overwhelming need amongst the youth for such a facility has necessitated its utilization. “We still need support to complete the construction work and avail all the required equipment. We also need support to facilitate training for the youth who will be utilizing this facility” said GECPD Director. “It is a great opportunity for us that we never had before. Now we can play soccer, meet and interact with our peers from all walks of life. Here our clan is football.” said one of the boys participating in the tournament. A precursor to the tournament was training for 50 team members on advocacy for peace and women rights.