UK ambassador to Somalia appeals for unity against gender based violence

Violence against women and girls still remains unabated globally with one in every three women being subjected to violence, UK ambassador to Somalia David Concar has said calling for sustained efforts to eliminate the scourge.

Speaking during an event to mark the global 16 Days of Activism campaign in Mogadishu Monday, Ambassador Concar reiterated the need for all sectors of the society to stand up against gender based violence noting the vice affected everyone.

“Violence against women and girls is stubbornly refusing to go down as other forms of violence decrease,” said Concar, “We need around the world to be paying more attention to reducing and eliminating gender based violence.” This year’s theme, Leave No One Behind, the ambassador said reinforces the importance of reaching out to every one especially the most vulnerable.

Violence against girls and women affects all of us, said Concar, “It shames all of us and it must be opposed by all of us.”

Speaking at the same event in Mogadishu, Women and Human Rights Development Minister Deqa Yasin said it was imperative to align the constitution and existing laws within the framework of gender rights and protection.

“We need to put a lot of efforts on the laws of our country to be amended since most of them were enacted in the 1960s especially articles on gender violence and children rights,” said Deqa. The ministry, Deqa said was working on submitting amendments and new laws to parliament to ensure adequate protection and promoting of the rights of women and girls.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates more than a third of all women worldwide- 35.6% will experience physical or sexual violence in a lifetime and usually from a male partner.

The prevalence is highest in African where nearly half of all women – 45.6% – will suffer physical or sexual violence, the global body said in a report last year.

The 16 days of activism is a global campaign on galvanizing action against Gender-Based Violence Campaign a time around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

This year’s campaigned is based on the theme, Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls”— reflecting the core principle of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Women and girls in Somalia remain largely vulnerable to gender based violence especially in light of the ongoing drought which forces most of them to travel in search of help exposing them to instances of rape and other forms of violence.