Somali Women’s Circle Network (SWCN) hosted an event entitled “Promoting Security of Somali women: Give rights, Gain justice on Saturday December 2013 at the Ben Franklin Place on Centrepointe drive. The event commemorated the 16 days of Activism Campaign in 2013, which creates awareness and action on the multi-faceted intersections of gender-based violence. Over the past twenty years, the civil war in Somalia left Somali women and their children to experience inhumane circumstances, including a lack of basic needs, constant threats, insecurity, and abuses of human basic rights without any consequences for perpetrators, and a bleak future. Women in Somalia are victimized by gender-based violence, and are also punished for the sexual violence committed against them. The event was to shine a light to those conditions and remind women and men to stand against any violence against women and support their sisters back home.The guest of honor was Batulo Sheikh Ahmed Gabale, Exec-director of the Somali National Women’s organization in Somalia. She is also a fellow Canadian Somali diaspora from Ottawa. Mrs. Gabale addressed the issues facing women in Somalia, including the lack of security, rape andthe constant threat. She shared the goal of her organization and outlined their aim in addressing on gender-based violence. She also thanked Canadian Somali diaspora women here in Ottawa and elsewhere in Canada. Mrs. Gabale offered a partnership with SWCN in empowering women and advocating on the eradication of violence against women in Somalia.Other speakers such as Abshira Saciid from South Africa addressed the same issue facing women in South Africa.Also, other Somali community leaders, including men, youth such as Amina Sheikh – Ahmed, Ahmed Sadiq, young poet Naeima Rage, and religious leaders added their voices for social rights and justice to end gender-based violence in Somalia, and improve Somali women’s overall security. SWCN is a network founded in July 2011 by a group of Somali professional women who were concerned about the future of Somali women in Somalia. The objectives of the Somali Women’s Circle Network (SWCN) is to empower women to assume decision-making positions, to develop the role of women in Somali society, and to mobilize them as educators, leaders, and peacekeepers in order to eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination against women. The event was well attended and received praises from the community. If you want to support this cause and other like it, please contact: [email protected]
Submitted by Ifrah Hassan
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