The Right Path (Tubta Toosan) Initiative – Somalia

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PRESS RELEASE

Puntland women voiced their readiness to contribute to the National CVE strategy for Somalia

Garowe, 24 May 2016 – The Right Path (Tubta Toosan) Initiative for Somalia with the support of Puntland State of Somalia today held in Garowe, Puntland a consultation meeting on the role of women in Politics and in Preventing Violent Extremism as part of the inclusive process to develop a comprehensive national strategy on Preventing and/or Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in Somalia.

Hon Mustafa Duhulow, CVE Coordinator praised the efforts of Abdullahi Mohamed Farah (Dihal), Puntland CVE Coordinator to organize today’s event in Garowe with the support of Somali Youth Development Network (SOYDEN) to provide opportunities for Puntland women to take part to the ongoing inclusive process to develop a comprehensive national strategy on Preventing and/or Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in Somalia. Attendees were diverse members of Somali women representing various civil society groups in Puntland.

Hon Mustafa Duhulow said “I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to the leadership of the Government of Puntland State of Somalia and in particular Abdullahi Mohamed Farah (Dihal) and Mr Osman Moallim, the Executive Director of (SOYDEN) for convening today’s event in Garowe as part of inclusive process to develop a comprehensive national strategy on Prevening and/or Countering Violent Extremism in Somalia. Tubta Toosan Initiative plans to reach out to all regions of Somalia and to all segments of the society so that the national P/CVE Strategy will address the root causes and drivers of violent extremism. We also want the strategy to be a Somali owned, Somali led and community driven, and that is why we are going to all the regions and talking to all segments of the society.”

Mr Abdullahi Mohamed Farah (Dihal), Puntland CVE Coordinator said “today’s event is the beginning of a series of events that the Government of Puntland of State plans to reach out to all segments of the society as they are key stakeholders to the country. Mr Fah also thanked to all participants of today’s event in Garowe and assured them that their feedback, suggestions and input will be included in the comprehensive National P/CVE Strategy for the country”.

Hon Duhulow said that today’s consultation with women in Garowe comes at a right time as members of the Security Council came to Mogadishu on 19 May 2016 where the UNSC noted that there is a historic opportunity to deliver more representative governance to the people of Somalia. That is why Tubta Toosan Initiative held today’s event to discuss the role of women in politics as the UNSC commended the Federal Government’s commitment to reserve 30 percent of seats in the upper and lower houses for women. Tubta Toosan Initiative understands the importance of women and that is why it is vital to empower women in politics so that they take a leading role to the inclusive process of the draft of the P/CVE strategy in Somalia.

The Tubta Toosan Initiative with the support of EU and Blueprint Somalia initiated the process to develop a national CVE strategy with the full support and at the direction of the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia. Next steps will include further engagement with stakeholders and the sharing of a draft strategy for more consultation. As many Somalis as possible will be given the opportunity to make contributions to the strategy, including members of the Diaspora and through an online consultation where any citizen can offer their input.

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