Somalia

OVERVIEW

Somalia has a history of extreme violence, poverty, and a complex political and military past, that involves protracted conflict, insecurity, famine and multiple humanitarian crises. There have been many attempts at consolidating peace through peace processes and subsequent failed peace agreements. Women’s exclusion from peace efforts post-2000 led to Somali women coming together across the five major Somali clans to present a unified front. This self-proclaimed women’s coalition called itself the ‘sixth clan’ to lobby for inclusion and overcome divisive clan politics. However, throughout the peace process, Somali and international elites continued to renege on promises to advance gender provisions and increase women’s representation.

STRENGTH OF GENDER PROVISIONS

Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic

0
None		 1
Weakest		 2 3 4 5
Strongest
Human Rights  
Development  
Post-Conflict Issues  
Violence Against Women
Participation  
General  

The Garowe Principles on the Finalization and Adoption of the Constitution and the End of Transition (Garowe I) 2011

0
None		 1
Weakest		 2 3 4 5
Strongest
Human Rights
Development
Post-Conflict Issues
Violence Against Women
Participation  
General

Provisional Constitution of The Federal Republic of Somalia 2012

0
None		 1
Weakest		 2 3 4 5
Strongest
Human Rights  
Development  
Post-Conflict Issues
Violence Against Women  
Participation  
General

WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION:
KEY CONSTRAINTS AND ENABLERS

Constraints

  1. Patriarchal and patrilineal configuration of clan-based structures
  2. Obstacles to women’s participation in government and exclusion in customary decision making
  3. Discriminatory gender norms and practices (e.g. FGM/C, SGBV)

Enablers

  1. Women’s trans-clan alliance
  2. Women’s participation in grassroots peace processes and peacebuilding
  3. Women’s ability to move between clans, overcome clan divisions (e.g. cross-clan economic opportunities, such as milk collection collectives)