Africa | Somalia | Activism

Somali Who Overcame Horrors To Fight For Refugees Named Woman Of The Year

Mariam Ibrahim Yusuf is a campaigner, a public speaker, a choir singer and a mother. She is also an asylum seeker, who risked her life and was separated from her children in order to flee conflict-wracked Somaliafor the United Kingdom. That was nearly eight years ago, and U.K. authorities have repeatedly rejected her asylum claim, leaving her in legal limbo. The 38-year-old will collect a Woman of the Year’ award at a ceremony in London, that the United Nations refugee agency organized with U.K. nonprofit Migrants Organise, which honors the accomplishments of refugee and migrant women

Africa | Somalia | Activism

Seven Somali Women Making a Difference

Source: Africa.com

There are many strong, capable women in Somalia. Dr. Hawa Abdi, Deqo Mohamed, Amina Mohamed, Edna Adan, Ilwad Elman, Fartuun Adan, and Fatima Jibrell are seven such amazing women. The actions of each demonstrate that in adversity there is the opportunity to make a positive difference and even to inspire others. Here are their stories:

Africa | Somalia | Activism

Women push for greater say in Somaliland policy-making

Source: Pangea Today

Gender equality advocates in the self-proclaimed independent nation of Somaliland are renewing pressure for a long-overdue political quota that would allow women greater participation in government and decision-making forums. Somaliland is internationally recognized as a region of Somalia and not as an autonomous state, but it has its own elections and president. It is considered a fledgling democracy that circumvented Somalia’s fate as a failed state. But noticeably absent from the decision-making processes are women, and activists argue that this is to the detriment of the territory�

Africa | Somalia | Activism

Somali Women: On the Pathway to Gender Equity

Source: Somali Current

After weeks of intense meetings, lengthy discussions and deliberations, several female activists and academics launched Somali Gender Equity Movement (SOMGEM). For hours, organizers and members of the movement weighed various locations. Rather than choosing Europe or Africa, they settled on holding the event in Minnesota, where a welcoming crowd of supporters was simple enough to summon. A number of people came together here at Doubletree Hotel in Minneapolis on Saturday night July 13 to mark the launch of Somali Gender Equity Movement (SOMGEM). The event brought together numerous women act