Somalia

The Electoral Law was amended in November 2024, securing 30% of women’s quota for the first time in Somalia. The Women Parliamentary Caucuses (WPC) in the national parliament (Upper House and House of the People) and the Parliaments of the five Federal Member States were among the most influential advocacy groups in the country to secure 30% women’s quota in the Electoral Law. The Caucuses aim to increase women's impact on political decisions by providing the necessary support to promote a gender equality legislative and policy agenda, including Somalia's ongoing constitutional review process. The WPCs were established in 2023 and 2024 through UN Women technical and financial support under the UN Joint Program “Women, Peace and Protection (WPP)” implemented with UNDP and UNSOM. More specifically, UN Women supported the WPCs through facilitating knowledge exchange to; 1) provide overview of the proposed electoral systems in the draft electoral law and share examples of successful temporary special measures (TSM) being exercised in neighboring countries to promote women’s political participation; and 2) provide a platform for collaborative brainstorming to develop strategies for gaining political support for incorporating TSM in the election related laws to achieve 30% women representation at District, State, and Federal levels. In addition, UN Women and UNDP organized a study visit for WPC Delegates to Rwanda to gain perspective on gender parity in the Parliament, which renewed the commitment of the delegates to advocate for the inclusion of 30% women quota in the Constitution. As a follow-up to the visit, the Somali delegation is also looking into replicating the GBV One Stop Centers, implementing Gender Responsive Budgeting, and promoting women’s socio-economic development.

UN Women in its role as a Co-Chair of the UN Gender Theme Group, UNCF Results Group on Gender, Human Rights, and Inclusion undertakes regular review and advocacy with the UN entities in Somalia in integration and mainstreaming of gender aligned to the UNCF as well as the global norms and standards including the realization of SDGs. Through UN Women and the DSRSG/RC/HC advocacy, the GTG is supported by the UNCT in initiating the “UNCT SWAP Gender Score Card Exercise for greater accountability on GEWE commitments’ and extended unwavering support for allocation of cost shared pooled resources. During the reporting period, the UN Women Humanitarian intervention n in the country has reached the most vulnerable and marginalized women living in IDP camps in Garowe, Baidoa, Kismayo and Mogadishu of Somali. The program has significantly contributed to saving the lives and livelihoods of the beneficiaries by creating access to and control of resources of women, access to information and transformative leadership of women and youth. In addition, UN Women also contributed to SDG 5 by achieving gender equality and empowerment for women and girls by advancing women’s economic resilience, supporting women in overcoming livelihood barriers and producing a more equitable flow of financial and non-financial opportunities and benefits. The Women’s Leadership, Empowerment, Access, and Protection in Crisis Response (LEAP) Program has made a significant contribution to promoting women's economic empowerment and fostered a transformation of inequitable gender attitudes, behaviours, and harmful practices, such as child marriage and female genital cutting, as well as restrictions on women’s mobility and their rights to education, health, work, and civic participation. The country office has strengthened the capacity of WLOs and SCOs on Gender Equality in Humanitarian Action (GIHA).
WPP has engaged over 900 traditional elders, religious and women leaders, and legal experts together through trainings, workshops, and discussions, in community advocacy and outreach activities,National and Local Action Plans on UNSCR 1325 were launched except Galmudug,Guidance and capacity building on amplifying the WPS agenda through media was provided through two trainings for a total of 69 journalists, youth activists and women advocates,African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) at FGS and FMS levels were established