UN chief salutes Somali women for promoting equity and inclusivity

Delegates queue up to cast votes for their candidates during the electoral process to choose members of the Lower House of the Somali Parliament in Kismaayo, Somalia on November 12, 2016. AMISOM Photo / Awil Abukar

Somalia joins the rest of the world today in marking the International Women’s Day with a call for sustained efforts at promoting a more inclusive and equitable society.

Anchored on the theme, Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives this year’s celebration salutes the role of activists in transforming the lives of women through local and global movements.

In Somalia, UN chief Michael Keating hailed women for their enduring role in holding the fabric of the society through difficult war and conflict periods the country has undergone.

“Women kept Somali families together during their country’s long years of chaos and armed conflict,” said Keating.

The UN chief also said Somali women had registered remarkable progress to take part in the country’s governance citing the 2016 elections which saw an increase to 24% the number women elected to serve in both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. The 9^th parliament which started in 2012 had 14% women legislators.

Women have also played a major role in creating job opportunities and actively participating in the country’s economic growth, Keating said in statement in marking this year’s International Women’s Day.

“Four out of every ten young women are economically active, and women have expanded into employment and livelihood sectors traditionally held by men, particularly as more of them assume responsibility for household income generation.”

Nevertheless, Somali women still face discrimination in their professional and educational advancement along with livelihood traditional sectors held by men, while millions of across the country encounter sexual and gender based violence.

Keating called for vigorous legislative and policy measures to address challenges facing women and expanding their role in decision making.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that “achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world.”