Somalis are one of the tremendous patriarchal societies in horn of African, where men control the power unconditionally and women has no gentle space of participation and decision-making roles except the roles as providers of basic needs and childcaring and nurturing children, and experience sexual gender base violence (GBV) and discrimination.

 

Somali culture is prearranged according to a clan structure with membership in a Diya group based on kinship. A Diya-paying group is made up of between a few hundred to a few thousand men linked by lineage and a contractual agreement to support one another, especially in regard to compensation for injuries and death against fellow members. Women are not counted as paying members in the same way as men and payments go directly to men.

Every day, in every part of Somalia, women are confronted by discrimination and inequality. They face violence, physical abuse, verbal abuse and unequal treatment, denial of resources, opportunities, and right participation in their wider communities, and are denied opportunities to learn, to earn and to lead. Women form the majority of those living in poverty.

In most households there are many bindings on girls and excessive freedom for boys whereas boys do not participate in domestic duties and girls have compulsion for the same. In Somali girls face problems like teasing and molestation. This creates insecurity in the minds of girls.

GREDO has strengthened the capacities of all community-based civil society organizations and among these are human rights and women rights defenders involved in rebuilding the State of Somalia – the cornerstone of lasting and meaningful social change. Addressing patriarchal barriers requires an in-depth understanding of gender inequalities and their implications in all spheres of life. It requires the inclusion of all people involved in their manner in the rebuilding of the state of Somalia: Ministries, governmental organizations, local organizations, CSOs, religious leaders, academia, think tanks, media and journalists, Somali women, men, girls, and boys, but also international donors, humanitarians, and NGOs.

Read the full article about GREDO by Abdiweli Shariff Ali at Global Washington.