Somali Media Women Association

26/08/2024

Happy National Women's Equality Day! Celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of women everywhere. 📰💪

12/08/2024

To all Somali youth, happy International Youth Day!

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Maryan Seylac, who is among the few young Somalis making a difference in the country!

Recognising someone's efforts motivates them to work harder, and this article from will increase these young people's confidence.

Here are their histories.

Mogadishu – Today is International Youth Day, an occasion to highlight youth issues around the world and to celebrate the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society. With youth making up some 70 per cent of Somalia’s population, young Somalis have an especially large part to play...

29/07/2024

"Surely we belonged to Allah, and we shall return to Him."

We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family, friends, and the entire Somali media community on the passing of the late Ahmed Gure, the founder of Online, one of the few popular online media outlets in Somalia that ever existed.

He will be remembered as a man who dedicated his skills and knowledge to the advancement of Somali journalists and the media in general.

May Allah grant his soul peace and mercy, and may his family have the strength to endure this loss.

28/07/2024

The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) strongly condemns Puntland police officers' assault on Suweys Ga'ate, a prominent female journalist for Puntland TV, and calls for immediate justice for Suweys, who is now fighting over five months for justice after police brutality.

''Women journalists should feel safe while serving their communities, but unfortunately, that is not the case,” Maryan Seylac executive director of SOMWA stated. She also demanded immediate justice for Suweys, urging Puntland police authorities to take action, and urged media outlet managers to provide flexible working hours for their female employees to ensure their safety and well-being.

https://somwa.org/suweys-gaate-a-female-journalist-is-fighting-for-justice-after-puntland-police-brutality/

10/07/2024

03/07/2024

Thanks, team Hubaal for sharing.

03/07/2024

Happening now: public discussion on promoting awareness and support for the minimum 30% women’s quota in Somali politics. Ruqiya Adan of SOMWA, who opened the public discussion, emphasised that the media has a vital role in raising awareness of the minimum 30% women's quota campaign in Somalia, promoting accountability, amplifying women's voices, and challenging stereotypes and profiles of female leaders and activists.

Fadumo Armiye, one of the female CSO leaders who spoke at the event, stated that efforts to address gender inequality and increase women's representation in leadership and decision-making processes are the foundation of Somalia's minimum 30% women's quota.

The event was opened by Mp. Luul Ibraahim, a member of the parliamentary human rights committee and the women's caucus. "We are committed to ensuring that the 30% quote is met, but we need all parts of society, especially the media, civil society, and men's allies, to support us."

We greatly appreciate the support from our partner, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM.

06/05/2024

On the second day of the Empowering Women in Politics through Communications and Social Media Workshop, participants concentrated on the use of social media in Somalia, with a particular emphasis on their audience and as a platform for social or political activism.

All forms of digital platforms and social media have their own disadvantages, and women politicians are victims of online abuse, including harassment and intimidation. Therefore, today's session focused on the basics of online safety, and participants shared their experiences with each other.

To empower women in political life by enhancing their communication skills,
Somali Media Women Association, with the help of
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM, has previously supported some current and aspiring Somali female politicians with their public speaking skills.

05/05/2024

Somali Media Women Association kicked off a three-day workshop for twenty-five current and aspiring female politicians in Hudur, in which they will discuss effective communication skills and the use of social media to boost women politicians' visibility.

Faadumo Abdirahman, Hudur's women chairwomen, spoke at the workshop's opening, calling on all women to support female politicians and encouraging aspiring women politicians to enter the Somali political industry.

The deputy commissioner of the district of Hudur, Ali Hussein, who opened the workshop, advised women politicians to effectively use social media in order to amplify their work, especially at election time.
Maryan Seylac, who also spoke at the opening event, stated that social media provides unprecedented opportunities for politicians and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue through two-way interaction, and female politicians should take these chances to become better candidates.

This workshop is part of the activities that SOMWA is holding with the support of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM to increase the visibility of women politicians in public life through social media posts.

04/05/2024

As part of activities that Somali Media Women Association holding with the support of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOMunder the comms campaign towards a culture of direct elections in Somalia, we hosted a one-day public discussion about direct elections in Hudur.

Speaking at the event's opening, the deputy district commissioner of Hudur, Ali Husein, stated that his district had succeeded in electing five female councillors, including the second deputy district commissioner.
Somali Media Women Association's executive director, Maryan Seylac, who spoke at the opening of the event, argued that open public discussion gives the community the opportunity to learn and discuss critical issues that affect them and review the clan-based election vs. one-person, one-vote electoral system.

The discussion's objectives are to engage communities and civil society groups in constructive discussions about the importance of all eligible Somalis' participation in elections as a way to exercise their democratic rights, and to advocate for women's 30 percent quota, more women candidates, more women voters, and more women electoral staff.

03/05/2024

The freedom of the press allows journalists and institutions to publish and disseminate information, thoughts, and opinions without worrying about government censorship or intervention.

This year's 2024 theme, "A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis," is a theme that affirms that all information must always be accessible to the public and that the government should assist this by guaranteeing that all sources and information are available to journalists and by providing a safe environment in which they can carry out their duties.

A great example is 2023, when deadly rains and floods occurred in Somalia. Journalists did not have all the necessary resources to inform the public of the danger that they were facing at that time.
Journalists play a crucial role in shedding light on environmental issues and promoting environmental justice. As a result, we call on the government to provide journalists with the vital access to information and press freedom that they need.

02/05/2024

On the second day of the journalists training on debate moderation and conducting public forums, journalists watched international debates moderated by highly skilled moderators.

Participants conducted a mock debate in order to practice what they had learned.

Topics covered in this session include preventing hate speech and misinformation.

01/05/2024

Happening now: a three-day workshop in Hudur, Bakool, to improve journalists' capacity for debate moderation and conducting a public forum during and after the election.

Journalists play a critical role in nurturing and furthering democracy, expanding civic space, and ensuring impartial and supportive coverage of political players when they participate in engaging debates and public forums.

Opening the event, the deputy district commissioner, Ali Husein, highlighted that the Bakool region does not get a lot of chances in terms of journalist capacity buildings compared to other regions.

Speaking at the event's opening, Maryan Seylac, executive director of Somali Media Women Association, stated that journalists should be fair and have the necessary skills to moderate political debates and public forums.

Thanks
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM for support

30/04/2024

09/03/2024

Please click the link below to watch our yesterday’s panel discussions which we focused on the barriers of Somali girls and women’s access to education, the workforce, economic participation, and how to bridge the gender divide.
Participants and panellists came up with some prevention strategy for ending violence and preparing the workforce for financial independence.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM
UNFPA Somalia
UNDP in Somalia

NEWSTRAININGS SOMWA holds an open discussion on investing women in Somalia (video and pictures) By admin - 8th March 2024 0 27 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp International Women’s Day, SOMWA holds an open discussion that calls on investing in women and promoting gender equality in Somalia, ‘Co...

08/03/2024

On this IWD, SOMWA holds an open discussion that calls on investing in women and promoting gender equality, ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress’ (Somalia).
We praise and encourage those women who work hard dispute the daily odds against them.

Opening the event, Baidoa district women's chairperson, Hindiyow Isak, called on all women and young girls to praise women who are breaking barriers and to ensure that 30% of Somali women’s parliament seats are achieved.

Seynab Ali of Bay Women Development, who is among the panellists, said, 'We have practically seen the importance of women investing; for instance, there are many families in the IDPs who were created small businesses and now have their businesses and are financially stable'.

Abdimajid, an IT expert: This industry is categorised as male-dominated, which is why women do not choose it as a career path. We used to sit 25 students in an IT class; only one was a woman, and the others were men. I would suggest that we create a space and programmes that are exclusive to women.

Luuley iftiin: The most unfortunate girls and women are those from IDPs and very low-income families who cannot afford to pay the fee of the school and take long- distances to go to school. It's essential that they get accessible education, whether formal or informal.

Mulki Ibrahim of Bay Women emphasised the importance of laws that protect women against gender-based violence and called on community leaders to be extra careful in terms of solving GBV cases and not re-victimising the victims.




United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM
UNFPA Somalia
Sparknews
UNWOMEN
UNDP in Somalia

06/03/2024

On this women’s month, we are proud to join a collaborative campaign with international organisations and NGOs around the globe that are paving the way towards gender equality.

To celebrate the IWD and to ensure that gender quality is achieved, SOMWA is holding an open discussion that calls for investing in women and promoting gender equality, ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress’ (Somalia).
Sparknews
FRANCE 24
L'Orient-Le Jour
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM
UNWOMEN
UNDP in Somalia
UNFPA Somalia
UN Women

13/02/2024

On this World Radio Day, we look at the vital role that Somali radios played in the coverage of the devastating El Nino rains in Somalia as guiders, informers, and educators.
Four front-line radio workers talked to us about their first-hand stories. Read more https://somwa.org/somwa-celebrates-world-radio-day-2024/

18/01/2024

SOMWA presents its annual report for the year 2023. This contains our achievements and challenges for this year. We would also like to thank our sponsors, who have financially and strategically supported us during 2023. We would like to call on any organisation that is interested in promoting women’s rights to join our women's empowerment programmes.


https://somwa.org/somwa-presents-its-annual-report-of-2023/

25/11/2023

Happening now in Baidoa: two panel discussions on the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls in South West State; and best practices and innovative solutions for investing in W/G as a prevention strategy for VAW. Panellists, including the deputy attorney general of SWS.

At the attorney general office, we are referred to cases of r**e and attempted r**e. ''The most difficult for us are the cases involving the intervention of traditional elders who solve things unfairly''.

Seynab of Bay women development, ''girls and women were not created only to serve men at home; we are all equal in terms of public and political participation''.

17/11/2023

As an organisation that is currently working on direct election campaign with United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM, it was an opportunity to hear from African expertise on election challenges on the theme Nexus Opportunities: A Workshop on African Elections and Disinformation.

It was fascinating how some of our African countries are doing well in terms of digital rights and access to information, which totally Somalia lacks.

02/11/2023

Today, as we commemorate the international day to end crimes against journalists, we sadly once again rank among the worst countries where crimes against journalists go uninvestigated and unpunished. The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) is concerned about the persistent culture of impunity surrounding the violence against journalists

We also like to emphasise the work equality and safety of women journalists in Somalia, who face double challenges, first for being women and second for being journalists, and call for laws that protect us.

On behalf of myself and my colleagues, we would like to pay our tribute to our colleagues who we lost this year. We urgently call for accountability and demand that those responsible for the killings and the attacks against journalists are brought to justice.

03/09/2023

13/06/2023

SSomali Media Women Associationholds a one-day open discussion on direct elections in Somalia, to provide platforms for the community to discuss the importance of one person and one vote and people’s confidence in the results of direct and inclusive elections.

I am old enough to witness a direct election and would like to state that the election of one person and one vote is obtained through independence and clear choice; and trust is obtained from meritorious people without corruption, regardless of the person's gender. Malaq Ali Adan

‘It is unfortunate that we, as the current generation, have not been lucky enough to see a direct election and vote for who we want, to get rid of the tyranny of politicians, and to overcome the obstacles that women had in their clans and elders'. Academician Asma Mohamed.
'Women have been oppressed and denied in the Somali political arena, some have been refused to hold office for reasons related to the fact that her husband and she are not from the same clan; direct election will give us a ticket to politics' Fadumo women's chairperson of Hudur.
'People with disability are suffering in Somalia, it will be amassing to see someone from disability community running for an office in the country. a person should be elected based on their education and ability to relate people' Ali Adan.
we appreciate the great of UUnited Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM

11/06/2023

On the second day of the communication and public speaking training for female politicians in Hudur, partics discussed how to overcome fear of public speaking, build confidence, and dealing with the media. They have acted as if they were giving speeches to an audience
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM
For the preparation of the challenging media questions during and beyond the election, participants conducted interviews among themselves as facilitators, observing their answers.

10/06/2023

https://youtu.be/CFefbpJYpbcToday's workshop on communication and public speaking for current and aspiring women politicians in Hudur. Thanks to SNTV for the news coverage. https://youtu.be/CFefbpJYpbc
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM

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10/06/2023

Somali Media Women Association holds, with the support of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM, a two-day communications and public speaking training to improve the capacity of 30 current and inspiring women politicians in Hudur, Bakool.
This is the first-of-its-kind training held in Hudur.

The 30% parliamentary gender quota is one of the most remarkable milestones in guaranteeing women’s equal political participation and representation. Thus, a lack of confidence, knowledge, and skills for participating in public speaking platforms excluded women from political arena. Shukri Ismail, chairperson of SOMWA.

''Many women with knowledge and talent have left politics because of fear of public speaking and dealing with the media, so we welcome this training. I am also calling on political leaders to give women a chance to enter politics''. Fadumo Abdirahman, women's chairperson of Hudur

While opening the seminar, the Hudur district governor OMAR ABDULLAHI ATUU said ''SWS is commended for its efforts to ensure the 30% quota for women, and I hope that after this training we will see more women participating in debates and competing with men in the political arena.

05/06/2023

We have today concluded a three-day training on journalist’s election reporting, countering hate, and preventing disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation in Hudur, Bakool.

Thirty journalists, among them those from minority, marginalised, and disabled backgrounds, who will be directly responsible for reporting election and political developments, benefited from this training.

During the three-day training, journalists had an interactive discussion and expressed their experiences with disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech during and beyond the elections, and they talked about ways to combat it.
Thanks to United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM who sponsored this training.

04/06/2023

Furitaanka tababarka lagu baranayo tebinta dooroshooyinka iyo wararka been-abuurka ah oo ururka SOMWA ay ku qabteen magaalada Xudur ee gobolka Bakool.

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04/06/2023

On the second day of journalists' election reporting, participants discuss hate speech in Somali content, identifying it, countering hate speech, and dealing with the newsiness of hate speech.

As this is an interactive training, participants talked about their experiences, highlighted how hate speech played a role in the previous elections, and appreciated techniques to prevent hate speech.
We appreciate the great support from United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia - UNSOM