Special Events
Helping Somali Women become Equal Partners in Rebuilding Somalia Ambassador John Yates
On March 8, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day President Obama described as a global celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. It is a time to acknowledge women in their quest to participate in their societies on an equal footing with men. Societies that invest in women and girls achieve greater levels of economic progress, prosperity, and political stability. This is true for the United States; it is true for Somalia. We are committed to investing in and supporting Somali women as essential and equal partners for the stabilization and revitalization of Somalia.
Across Somalia, in refugee camps, and in the wider diaspora, Somali women are engaged in peace-building and prosperity activities. They are administering hospitals, earning income to feed their families, running businesses, managing non-governmental organizations, and leading government ministries. The question they now address is how to consolidate and build on their positive contributions to further empower women and strengthen Somalia.
The United States is firmly committed to supporting Somali women’s contributions to bring peace and prosperity back to Somalia. We are engaging women’s organizations in peace building and are supporting efforts to increase their participation in political and governance processes. We are working to increase girls’ enrollment in schools and to empower girls and women through skills training and employment opportunities.
Sixty women across Somalia were trained last year on identifying the nature and roots of conflict and given leadership, communication and teambuilding skills to promote peaceful solutions. Others received training in developing media tools for peace advocacy. At the completion of the training, the women were given small grants to develop their efforts to promote peace and to reduce conflict.
U.S. assistance has also strengthened the capacity and increased the confidence of female members of parliament so that they can take on greater leadership roles. Our assistance led to the establishment of a women’s parliamentary caucus which is actively mobilizing civil society networks to engage in political dialogue. This is a significant achievement as it enables women to have greater representation in Somali politics and other decision-making forums.
Our advocacy has led to greater numbers of girls attending school. In conjunction with Community Education Committees, we increased the number of female Somali teachers, and provided schools with latrines and hand-washing facilities specifically designed for Muslim girls.
We are also working with our Somali partners to ensure that Somali women and girls have access to the same opportunities for skills training and employment opportunities as Somali men and boys. Increasing the job skills and economic opportunities of the entire society increases its ability to prosper. This particularly true in Somalia, where conflict, drought, and violent extremism have devastated communities.
As President Obama wrote, “To win the future, we must equip the young women of today with the knowledge, skills, and equal access to reach for the promise of tomorrow.” That future is a peaceful and prosperous Somalia and its one that will be attained through the participation of all Somalis –men and women, boys and girls.
Caawinta Dumarka Soomaaliyeed
of
Ku caawinta Dumarka Soomaaliyeed in ay Kala Mid noqdaan Ragga Dibudhiska Soomaaliya
Danjire John Yates
Wakiilka Gaarka ah ee Maraykanka u Qaabilsan Soomaaliya
Masrso 8, 2011
8da Maarso, waxaanu u dabaal dagnay munaasabada 100aad ee Maalinta Haweenka Aduunka, waa maalin Madaxweyne Obama uu ku tilmaamay in ay tahay dabaal dag loo smaynaayo dhaqalaha, siyaasada iyo guulaha ijtimaaciga ah ee dumarku horay u gaareen, kuwa haatan ay gaareen iyo kuwa mustaqbalka. Waa waqtigii looga mahad celin lahaa haweenka dadaalkooda ay ugu jiraan ka qeybqaadashada arimaha bulshooyinkooda sida ragguba ay uga qeyb qaataan. Bulshooyinka maal galiya dumarka iyo gabdhaha waxaa ay guul ka soo hoynayaan heerar waaweyn oo dhanka horumarka dhaqaalaha, barwaaqada iyo xasiloonida siyaasada ah. Arintani waxay ka rumoowday Maraykanka, waxayna ka dhaboobi kartaa Soomaaliya. Waxaanu ku dhiiran nahay maalgalinta iyo taageerida haweenka Soomaaliyeed waxaanu u taageereynaa sidii in ay yihiin dad nala wadaagaya xasilinta iyo soo nooleynta Soomaaliya.
Soomaaliya gudaheeda oo dhan, qaar ka mid ah xerooyinka qaxootiga, iyo guud ahaan qurbaha oo dhan, dumarka Soomaaliyeed waxay ku howlan yihiin dhismaha nabadda iyo howlaha manfaca leh. Waxay maamulayaan isbitaalo, waxay helaan dakhli ay ku quudiyaan qoysaskooda, waxay kujiraan ganacsi, waxay maareynayaan ururo aan dowli ahayn waxayna sidoo kale hoggaaminayaan wasaarado dowladeed. Arinta ay haatan sidii ay ku xallin lahaayeen ku tala jiraan ayaa ah adkaynta iyo dhisida gacan ka geysashadooda sidii ay aad ugu sii xoojin lahaayeen dumarka Soomaaliya.
Maraykanku wuxuu si cad ugu dhiiran yahay taageerida dumarka Soomaaliyeed iyo sida ay gacan uga gaysanayaan nabadaynta iyo barwaaqeynta Soomaaliya. Waxaanu ku howlan nahay ururada haweenka oo aan ka taageereynaa dhisida nabadda waxaana taageereynaa taageerida dadaalada lagu kordhinaayo ka qeybqaadashadooda hannaanka siyaasada iyo kan xukunka. Waxaanu ka shaqeyneynaa sidii loo kordhin lahaa tirada gabdahaha iskuulada kusoo biira waxaana ku xoojinaa hablaha iyo haweenka tababaro xirfadeed iyo fursado shaqo.
Lixdan dumar ah oo ka socda Soomaaliya qeybaheeda oo dhan ayaa la tababaray sanadkii tagay waxaana tababar lagu siiyay soo helida sida ay yihiin iyo sababaha dagaalka waxaana sidoo kale la siiyay xirfado hoggaan, kuwo xiriir iyo kuwo kusaabsan dhisida kooxaha si sare loogu qaado xalalka nabadda.
Cawimaada Mareykanka ayaa sidoo kale waxay xoojisay awooda waxayna kordhisay kalsoonida tirada dumarka ah ee kujira baarlamaanka si dabadeed ay u cayaaraan doorar hoggaan oo intii hore ka weyn. Cawimaadeenu waxay keentay hirgalinta kooxda dumarka ah ee kujira baarlamaanka oo si firfircoon isugu dubaridaya shabakado ay leeyihiin bulshooyinka rayidka ah si markaa ay uga qeybqaataan wadahadalka siyaasadeed. Tani waa guul weyn oo soo hoyatay maadaama ay dumarka awood u siiso in ay tiradoodu ka korodho dhanka siyaasada Soomaaliya iyo dhanka fagaareyaasha go’aamada lagu soo saarayo.
Taageeradeenu waxay keentay in tiro intii hore ka badan oo gabdho ah ay wax ka bartaan iskoolada. Anagoo la xiriirayna Guddiyada Waxbarashada ee Bulshada ayaanu kordhinay tirada macalimiinta dumarka ah ee Soomaaliyeed waxaana iskuulada u dhisnay musqulo iyo meelo gacmaha lagu dhaqdo kuwaasoo gaar ahaan loogu tala galay gabdhaha Muslimiinta ah.
Waxaanu sidoo kale la shaqeyneynaa ururada xiriirka nala leh si aanu u hubino in dumarka iyo gabdhaha Soomaaliyeed ay helaan fursado la mid ah kuwa ragga iyo wiilashu u helaan tababarada xirfadaha iyo shaqooyinka. Kordhinta fursadaha shqo iyo kuwa dhaqaale ee gebi ahaan bulshada waxay kordhisaa awooda lagu barwaaqoobayo. Arintan waxaa gaar ahaan loogu tala galay Soomaaliya, oo colaado, abaaro iyo xagjirnimo ay la dageen bulshooyinka.
Sida uu qoray Madaxweyne Obama, “Si loogu guuleysto mustaqbalka, waa in aanu qalabayno dumarka da’da yare ee maanta kuna qalabayno aqoon, xirfado, iyo fursado isku mid ah sidii ay ku heli lahaayeen si loo gaaro ballan qaadka beri.” Mustaqbalku waa Soomaaliya nabad iyo barwaaqo ah arintaasoo lagu gaari karo in dhammaan Soomaalida oo dhami ka qeyb qaataan arinta-rag iyo dumar, wiilal iyo gabdho.