16 days of activism

I’d like to welcome you to my first blog as the UK Ambassador to Somalia.  I have spent my first six months learning about this wonderful country and travelling to as many places as I can.

As this week marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, I thought it was a perfect time to start blogging as the empowerment of Somali women is a key part of our work at the British Embassy Mogadishu.  We believe it is critical that girls and women have a voice in their families, communities, and societies, and play an active role in processes that influence and shape their future.

The challenges are huge, as reflected by the statistics on violence against women and girls.  Globally, one in three women is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime.

This is why the Foreign Secretary launched the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). The initiative is working to change attitudes and replace the culture of impunity for sexual violence committed in conflict with one of deterrence – by increasing the number of perpetrators brought to justice both internationally and nationally; by strengthening international efforts and co-ordination to prevent and respond to sexual violence; and by supporting countries like Somalia to build their national capacity.

The UK through the Presidency of the G8 this year, is calling for wider international attention to address these issues and challenge the assumption that sexual violence is an inevitable part of conflict.

In Somalia, domestic violence continues to be a serious problem and sexual violence widespread including specific allegations against the police force, armed forces and militias. I welcome the effort and commitment already demonstrated by the Federal Government of Somalia to address this issue.  The President signed the PSVI communiqué at the London Conference in May, in which the FGS agreed to tackle sexual violence.

Further societal stigma attached to sexual violence and rape prevents many women from reporting crimes.

This was the case of women like 20 year old Shukri, who was brutally raped by seven men. Shukri lives in a village where girls and women have very limited access to justice and little knowledge of their legal rights. Even where cases are brought to court there is a very poor verdict rate for survivors.  But a new Sexual Assault and Referral Centre, funded by UKaid, enabled Shukri to take her case to court. Her attackers were eventually sentenced to 5 years in prison each. Despite her ordeal, Shukri has been adamant that she “wanted to get justice and would knock on every door to get it.”

It is crucial that we continue to tackle the culture of impunity around these crimes and provide women and children with the support they need when these abhorrent crimes occur.

We’re working closely with colleagues across the British Embassy Mogadishu to ensure our PSVI work is coordinated and integrated across the wide range of our programming.  Relevant DFID programming includes; improving economic opportunities for women; essential packages of health services; addressing FGM; the provision of safe drinking water (avoiding long trips in search of water, thus reducing exposure to incidences of gender based violence); and the governance programme which is designed to make formal institutions (including the justice system) more responsive to the needs of women and girls, increasing female participation and supporting women to better understand their rights.

As a result, 424 cases of sexual assault cases have been assisted at the referral centre; nearly 17,000 women have been employed on long term job equivalents; over 200,000 women targeted with behaviour change communications messages including on FGM ; 1 million people have been reached with clean water and improved sanitation; and 3,906 female citizens across Somalia received legal aid. The Stabilisation Unit have supported the provision of solar street lights to improve personal safety, and have developed a project to improve the economic resilience of women in Baidoa.  Female Engagement training has been delivered by a British Police Support Team to the Ugandan army as part of the AMISOM pre-deployment training programme.

The challenges are certainly great but so are the gains.  Over the next two weeks I have invited some of our partners to be guest bloggers on my blog to highlight the work that they are doing and discuss some of the challenges they face.  I will also be back to let you know in detail some of the other work that the UK is doing on this incredibly important issue.

Your comments and contributions will be very welcome