At a time when cultural and social norms in Somalia were limited to women only working, marrying at an early age, and not even going to school, college, or university. Women were taken advantage of and were not given any rights to property. But now women in Somalia have overcome all these challenges and barriers and have come forward in every field of life. This is the reason that women are now playing an active role in Somali leadership. Women are now holding important positions in many sectors from the federal cabinet to provincial and local government and are doing their job well.
- Historical Challenges Faced by Somali Women in Politics
- Cultural Barriers:
Somalia’s old rotten mentality has kept women away from every sphere of life, including politics. Here even today in many villages women cannot do anything other than housework under social, cultural, and societal norms.
- Security and Conflict
Due to decades of unrest, civil war, and political instability in Somalia, women cannot participate in politics, education, and health sectors.
- Limited Education
One of the basic rights of women is to get an education, and women in Somalia face many obstacles to getting an education.
- Patriarchal Political Systems:
In Somalia, tribal and social decisions and norms have kept women behind men in every field, including politics. Obstacles are created for women in every field because they think that men should dominate everywhere instead of women.
- Notable Female Political Leaders and Pioneers
- Amina Mohamed:
In Somalia, women are starting to participate in politics, Amina Mohammed is one of the first women to be elected to the parliament.
- Fawziya Yusuf H. Adam:
The first female Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to be elected on merit in Somalia is playing her full role in national integrity and national leadership.
- Safia Haji Aden:
This woman is a voice against obstacles to women’s rights in Somalia and works hard to empower women politically.
- Efforts Toward Gender Equality and Political Empowerment
- Gender Quotas:
A very positive move for women by the Somali leadership is that a thirty percent quota has been allocated for women in the parliament, which has helped women to enter politics.
- Women’s Organizations:
Many local and international organizations are working hard against the violation of women’s rights in Somalia. With the help of these organizations, efforts are being made to remove obstacles in the way of women.
- International Support:
Somali leadership has limited resources and due to lack of money, they cannot solve many problems in their country. That is why many UN agencies and international organizations are working day and night for women’s rights in Somalia and are also helping the Somali leadership to generate resources.
Despite the cultural, security, social, social, and educational barriers, women in Somalia have made great progress by actively participating in politics. All this has happened because of local and international organizations and UN agencies. Here, women have become a part of politics by breaking the obstacles in their way and are playing an active role in the country’s security and development.
