The Right Path (Tubta Toosan) Initiative – Somalia

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PRESS RELEASE

Somali Women’s Involvement in Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism is Fundamental: “Let Us Hear the Voices of Somali Women”

Mogadishu, 27 April 2016 – The Right Path (Tubta Toosan) Initiative and Somali Youth Development Network (SOYDEN) held a consultative meeting today in Mogadishu on the role of women in politics and in Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). The Hon Mustafa Duhulow, CVE Coordinator for Somalia and Osman Moallim, Director of SOYDEN, applauded the commitment and efforts of Somali women to take part the upcoming electoral process and in the inclusive process to develop a national strategy on preventing and countering violent extremism in Somalia.

The Hon Mustafa Duhulow and Eng. Yarisow, two respectable former Ministers of Information, who has been working the Tubta Toosan Initiative for the last few years, warmly welcomed Somali women’s ambition, commitment and desire to take a leading role in the inclusive process to develop a comprehensive national strategy on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). The Hon Mustafa Duhulow commented: ‘Today’s consultation was very fruitful and informative.’

Osman Moallim, Director of SOYDEN, speaking at the event, said: “We all need to empower women so that they can take part in the implementation of the upcoming 2016 electoral process, in order to ensure that women get the 30% quota that they have a constitutional right to and that they deserve. So far we have seen genuine political will from the National Leaders Forum but we must all work hard so that the 30% is reserved and achieved or, at the very least, we allow only women to apply for those seats, thus guaranteeing their positions in government. I believe women’s empowerment to take a leading role on CVE is also vital as women are integral part of the society.”

The Hon Mustafa Duhulow emphasized the importance of reaching out to all segments of society in the process of developing an inclusive national CVE strategy. Hon Duhulow said “Women are integral part of the society. Therefore we must give them the opportunities to take part in all the consultation processes in order to ensure that gender issues are well represented in the strategy. Today’s event is only the beginning and we will continue reaching out to all women’s groups across the country. Their voices are important and must be heard.”

Eng. Yarisow stressed the importance of women in the prevention of violent extremism in the society and said: “Since women in many cases are breadwinners in the society, their role is pivotal to preventing or countering violent extremism. The national CVE strategy will address the root causes of violent extremism in society, tailored to the specific local context. In order for the strategy to be a Somali-Owned, Somali-Led process, it is imperative that women to have a major role in the drafting of the national strategy. Women are best placed to confront all the root causes of violent extremism, such as injustice, grievances, lack of job opportunities, and many more.”

The Hon Mustafa Duhulow thanked all participants at today’s event and said: “Your valuable contributions to both forums were exceptional and we have taken all points that you raised on board. We will make sure that we continue the consultation process and reach out to all key stakeholders. We will include all the points you have shared with us today in the national CVE strategy. Let us all continue the debate and discussion until we have taken all the feedback from women’s groups in the country. This is the beginning, therefore: we always welcome hearing your feedback, your concerns and the issues that you would like to be included in the strategy as well as during the implementation of CVE programs and activities. So let us hear the voices of Somali women.”