SWA is a platform of women representing a constituency of approximately 400,000 Somali women from al SWA’s Focal Points
Region
Members
1. Hiraan
ISRAAC*
7.
SWA; a platform of women representing a constituency of approximately 400,000 Somali women from all over Somalia and the Diaspora with representatives from the following organizations: IIDA, YOUTH GROUPS ( Youth Link, Shaydo, Mogadishu Youth groups) , SSWC, HEEGAN, DIJHRO, WAWA, ALLA MAGAN, SWEA, FEPMA, HINNA, FATXI, SOMALI WOMEN DIASPORA (SWD), WAMO, CORD, DELPHIA, KALSAN, Somali women activists,
Somali women Artists, Somali Women Journalists and other individuals committed to the cause. SWA is an initiative which aims to create a national and united women’s movement drawing urgent attention to the alleviation of the status of Somali women; the need to strengthen each other in addressing issues affecting women and girls; the lack of involvement of women in decision making and holding those in authority accountable.
2. Vision
A society where women and men can participate equally without oppression, discrimination and violence to achieve peace and development
5. Objectives
The main objective for SWA, is to take measures, to ensure women’s equal access and full participation in power-structures, decision-making positions and, in peace and reconciliation processes; promote peace building, justice and equality; protect the human rights of Somali women and the girl child; promote participatory good leadership and accountability; and promote the participation of youth and their mentorship. Specifically SWA will:
Play an active role in democratic processes, i.e., Constitutional-making, referendum, and elections in the context of sustainable peace in Somalia, especially ensuring that women’s agenda are part of the country’s agenda. Promote partnership with the Somalis Women in the Diaspora, to create visibility of SWA at regional and international level. Build Coalition with other Civil Society Organizations, particularly those that promise to move the country processes forward through lesson learning, capacity building, and providing forums for debate. Develop and strengthen capacity for reciprocal learning, in advocacy, networking, research and training; with women activists, women parliamentarians and partner organizations. Provide technical support to civil society organizations, government, and other stakeholders in their efforts to bring about peace, improve governance structures, to formulate and implement gender sensitive policies and laws. Work with strategic alliances, the African Union, IGAD, advocacy organizations in the region; UN- agencies and other international development partners focusing on peace for Somalia. Facilitate networking supported by strong coordinated and organizational arrangements, information sharing and co-operation amongst SWA Members in working strategies for addressing women’s agenda. Develop gender sensitive systems to monitor the impact of conflict on women and children, on equality, development and peace in Somalia.
6. SWA’s Structure
6.1 The General Assembly
The General Assembly is composed of 65 members, representatives from all regions of Somalia.
6.2 The Steering Committee
SWA is headed by a Steering Committee of 19 members. The key role of the committee is to:
• Develop SWA’s policies and strategies.
• Develop organizational policies and strategies.
• Mobilise resources for the organisation.
• Create linkages/strategic alliances with regional and international organizations.
• Represent SWA in regional and international forums.
6.3 SWA’s Management Structure
The management structure is composed of:
• The Chair of SWA
• First Vice Chair
• Second Vice Chair
• General Secretary
• Treasurer
6.4 Task Forces
There are four tasks forces formed to steer the priority areas of SWA’s work: Peace Task Force; Human Rights Task Force; Political Task Force; and Development Task Force.
6.4.1 The Peace Task Force
Strategic Objective:
• To advocate and lobby for the participation of Somali women in conflict resolution at decision-making levels and the protection of internally displaced women.
• Promote and advocate for non-violent forms of conflict resolution to reduce the incidence of human rights abuse.
• Promote women’s contribution to fostering a culture of peace.
6.4.2 Human Rights Task Force
Strategic Objectives:
• Advocate and Lobby for the protection of human rights of Somali women, through the implementation of all human rights instruments, especially the rights of women in Islam, CEDAW and Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
• Promote Legal Literacy
6.4.3 The Political Task Force
Strategic Objectives:
• To advocate for women’s equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision-making.
• Increase women’s capacity to participate in decision-making and in leadership positions.
• To actively engage with MPs especially women MPs to take over the SWA into parliament.
6.4.4 Development Task Force
Strategic Objectives:
• Advocate and lobby for the participation of Somali women in the development and reconstruction.
• Lobby for the internally displaced and asylum seekers for resettlement.
• Promote women’s contribution to fostering social and economic development.
6.5 SWA’s Focal Points
Focal Points have been established in all the regions to mobilize women from the grassroots, to coordinate and implement SWA’s activities at the local level. N.B: The first member listed for every region in the list below, is also the focal point for the region. Puntland
WAWA/Business Women’s Association
2. Lower/Middle Juba
WAMO, SSWC, SWEA
3. Banadir
SWEA, IIDA, SSWC, CORD, FEPMA,HINNA
4. Lower Shabelle
IIDA, FATXA, AYAANDHALAD,HEEGAN
5. Middle Shabelle
KALSAN, OGAAL*,ALLAMAGAN
6. Galgaduud
MIDNIMO*, SSWC,ALLAMAGAN,KALSAN, IIDA
8. Mugud
HORSEED, WAWA, SSWC
9. Gedo
TAWAKAL*, WAMO
10 Bay
SAMAWADO*
11. Bakool
MAANDHEERE*, DELPHIA
12. Diaspora
IIDA-ITALY to facilitate Focal Point
* Member organizations of SWEA
6.6 SWA’s Programme Units
There are 6 programme units created to operationalise SWA’s activities. The lead organisations are chosen on the basis of their capacity and work experience, with the mandate to develop strategies for the unit. SWA’s Programme Unit and Lead Organisations. Unit
Lead Organisation
1. Fundraising
Somali Women in Diaspora(SWD)
2. International/Public Relations
SWD
3. Lobbying/Advocacy
WAWA and SWD
4. Research/Documentation
Youth-Link and SWD
5. Mobilisation
WAAMO and SWD
6. Monitoring/Evaluation
CORD and SWD
6.7 The Secretariat. The hand-on manager of SWA is the Executive Director who heads the secretariat based at SWA’s Headquarters . She:
• Undertakes overall management of SWA’s programmes.
• Oversees and facilitates implementation of programmes.
• Links SWA with country, regional and international processes.
• Implements the decisions of the Steering Committee
• Co-ordinates all emerging activities of SWA. Reporting to her are the Administrative Secretary, Accounts Assistant, Office Assistant and other support staff.
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Riportiamo integralmente le parole d'amore di un ItaloSomalo.
Leggetele attentamente e più volte e fatevi ispirare, orientare e ripescare la vostra Cultura ItaloSomala... poiché la Nostra Memoria Collettiva é li che ci attende per essere narrata e Condivisa.
Recita così il proverbio somalo: waarimeysidee war ha kaa haro.
Tradotto: poiché sei mortale fai in modo che di te rimanga almeno la Parola (il Ricordo).
Ecco a voi le Parole di Sergio Jano che hanno ispirato la Sezione "Memoria Vivente" del Sito in costruzione.
"Cari Mogadisciani ,
tutti noi abbiamo una immensa nostalgia della Somalia, di Mogadiscio , della Casa d'Italia, e qualvolta si ricorda tempi e luoghi trascorsi laggiù, il cuore mi si riempie di gioia . Purtroppo questi ricordi si fermano sempre a tempi più recenti.
Io vorrei pregarvi, magari interpellando i vostri padri ho i nonni, di ricordar loro una Mogadiscio più vecchia, ma molto più bella.
La via Roma, con i negozi di vernici di Riccio, l'Orologeria Fornasari, il negozio di scarpe di Campino, la sartoria di Chiacchio, il parrucchiere Campino, la sartoria Incandela, la Farmacia Orientale, l'autonoleggio Bertolani .
Venendo su' dal cinema Hamar , incontravi l'emporio Passoni, un negozio di armi, la Ricci, il forno Mariottini, e l'Alta Moda.
Più su' c'era la ferramenta di Tortato , il negozio di biancheria della Pedretti, il ristorante Aragnino, l'officina Maragliano, il forno Azzan, e il circolo del Tennis.
Dalla parte della Croce del Sud , l'Alitalia , il negozio della Tomeazzi, i fratelli Majer, Abdulmana. Vicino al Vecchio porto, esisteva il più orribile locale notturno che io abbia mai visto, si chiamava "la Pineta" apriva i battenti quando il Lido Chiudeva, nessuno se lo ricorda ?
Nessuno si ricorda quanto erano buoni le Lasagne e il capretto che si potevano mangiare al ristorante Safari, di Vittorio d'Africa?
Chiudo qui, ma potrei continuare per un'altra ora..."
Giugno del 2012
Sergio Jano
(La foto di quando arrivò a Mogadiscio)
24/06/2016
IIDA Women’s Development Organization and Somali Women Agenda are pleased to share with you the Like Minded Civil Society Position Paper that was developed during the Likeminded Civil Society Retreat held at Godir Center Mogadishu between the 29th and 31st May, 2016.
Please share and spread the word:http://www.hiiraan.com/pdf_files/2016/Jun/Likeminded%20CSO's%20position%20paper-June%202016.pdf
LIKEMINDED SOMALI CSOs RETREAT
29th to 31st May 2016
'The Somalia we want: Likeminded Somali CSOs United for Good Governance'
A Communiqué
1.0 Introduction
We, members of the likeminded Somali Civil Society (CSOs), representing different organizations from all over Somalia, Somali diaspora together with human rights and gender champions, and invited experts from Eastern Africa region, participated in an inception, planning and bonding retreat for likeminded CSO leaders organized by the Somali Women Agenda (SWA) and Women's Development Organization (IIDA) in Mogadishu, Somalia from the 29th to 31st May 2016. As CSOs, our partnership has solidified and institutionalized in the last 25 years, and continues to play a vital role in re-building a stable society and an effective state, by undertaking actions geared at creating capacities for better governance, protection of human rights and promotion of peace in Somalia.
The Retreat was to improve synergy and collaboration between us as we engage in engendering Somalia’s constitutional review, electoral, political, policy formulation and legislative processes; including the weighty issues of child protection; gender based violence, migration, youth radicalization, and women’s political participation, especially with regard to 2016 elections model and process.
2.0 Our Observations
a) Civil Society Position
• In the past, there have been clever designs by some members of the political leadership to exclude CSOs from genuine and effective participation in governance processes in Somalia;
• It is the position of the likeminded CSOs that unfettered involvement of CSOs in governance processes be genuine and sustainable and not just empty statements which can be ignored at will;
• The likeminded CSOs commit themselves to collaborative relationships in their work and timely sharing of information to avoid unhealthy competition and duplication of efforts that would bog down the work of the civil society.
b) The 2016 Electoral Model and Process
• There is no legislative framework on the electoral process in Somalia at the moment;
• The proposed electoral model contained in the Communiqué dated April 1, 2016 is flawed and does not pass constitutional test;
• The electoral model sidelines the constitutionally mandated National Independent Electoral Commission that was approved by parliament;
• The National Leaders’ Forum itself is not recognized by the Constitution, hence illegal;
• The proposal that Federal and Regional Executive appoint an elections management referee including the “The NLF will create a Dispute Resolution Mechanism for the 2016 electoral process” will engender conflict of interest since most of the officials are candidates in the upcoming elections as such fairness and transparency of the processes are at stake;
• The process is being rushed without genuine, meaningful and effective consultations with and participation of the broad spectrum of Somali peoples;
• The proposal that the executives of the regional administrations nominates two candidates for each seat of the upper house who will then contest the seat through a vote in the regional legislative Assembly is a clear breech of the principle of separation of powers;
• The proposal that elections take place in the capitals of the regional administrations is unconstitutional since regional administrations have no role in federal national elections;
• The model correctly reserves 30% of seats of both houses for women but robs them of their voting right by diabolically proposing that women comprise only 30% of the Electoral College-hence turning affirmative action on its head.
c) Pressing Issues
• The child protection challenges, especially the twin issues of recruitment of children into armed forced and group and other forms of violence perpetrated by armed forces and groups targeting women and children are not getting the attention that they ought to;
• Somalia is faced with migration and radicalization crisis among the youth. Our youth drown daily in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, while others join radical groups like Al Shabaab and ISIS.
3.0 Proposals by Likeminded CSOs
• The original agreement in which regions were to have two options for the election seats should be restored;
• There should be minimum facilitative reforms to the Provisional Constitution through amendments in accordance with Articles 133 and 134 as read together with Schedule ONE;
• There should be facilitative legislation under Article 139 on Continuation of the Laws. Where appropriate legislation exists within the meaning of this constitutional provision, the same should be retrieved and enforced with necessary adaptation where circumstances dictate;
• There should be facilitative legislation under Article 134 as read together with Schedule ONE (D) of the Provisional Constitution;
• Membership of the electoral colleges at the federal and member states should have 50-50 gender parity, taking in to account youth, persons with disabilities, minorities, diaspora and other vulnerable groups;
• The 30% seats reserved for women in the upper and lower houses should be filled first before the other seats are contested;
• The government should deal with the twin issues of child protection and protection of women in proximity to armed forces and groups in Somalia at this time when Somalia is stabilizing;
• Migration by and radicalization among youth should receive the requisite attention from both the international community, the federal government of Somalia and the civil society, to stem this terrible loss of our youth;
• Engagement, role and conduct of the members of the international community and agencies in the 2016 electoral process MUST be in compliance with the universally established norms and standards set out by the relevant regional and international treaties, conventions, protocols and non-treaty instruments.
The likeminded CSOs coalition from now henceforth promises to maintain internal vigilance and will ensure that issues raised in this communique and the accompanying position paper are addressed. So please stay tuned.
Participating Organizations:
1. 1. Delphia
2. SWEA (Somali Women Entroprenural Association)
3. SWSO (Somali Women Solidarity Organization-Jubbaland
4. HINNA
5. SOWDA (Somali Organization
6. ISRAAC-Beledweyne-Hiiraan
7. FAXTA-Benadir
8. BBWO (Benadir Business Women Organization)
9. IIDA Women’s Development Organization
10. Galgadud-Women Group
11. SNWO (Somali National Women Organization)
12. DIJHRO (Dr Ismail Jimale Human Rights Organization)
13. KAHRO (Khaliif Huudoow Human Rights Organization)
14. SONDC (Somali National Disability Council)
15. DHBR (Dhaqdhaqaaa Bulshada Rayidka)-Benadir
16. PMWDO (Puntland Minority Women Organization)- Galkacyo-
Puntland
17. Talo Wadaag-Beledweyne-Hiiraan
18. SWA (Somali Women Agenda)
19. MIDNIMO-Women Business Association-Galgadud
20. WAWA- Puntland
21. SAREDO-Galkacyo-Galmudug
22. Salaam Women Organization-Abudwaq-Galgadud
23. COGWO (Coalition for Grassroot Women Organization)
24. HANAD-Benadir
25. PHRN (Peace and Human Rights Network)
26. FEPMA (Female Paramedical Association)
27. XAMDI (Dhusamareb-Galgadud)
28. ATM (Anti Tribalism Movement)-UK
29. BADEN (Banadir Development Network)-Lower Shabelle
30. APHAD (Alikar Center for Peace, Human Rights, Democracy)-Galgadud
31. SCSC (Somali Civil Society Coalition)
32. Ayaan Dhalad –Lower Shabeele
33. Shaydo-Lower Shabelle
34. WAMO - Jubbaland
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