Mental And Psychological Support Training Provided For 100 100 Young Feminist Activists In Bosaso, Somalia

Women and girls who constitute approximately half of Somalia’s population are subjected to systematic discrimination, exclusion and injustice in all spheres of social, economic and political life. Sexual and gender-based violence including domestic violence, rape, and sexual abuse remains widespread throughout Somalia as a result of the continued insecurity, weak rule of law, gender inequality and oppressive cultural practices and norms. Recent spikes in intimate partner violence, rape, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and abuse have multiplied GBV risks for women and girls with worsening impact on women and girls from the marginalized communities such as internally displaced people and refugees. This is compounded by limited availability of specialized GBV treatment services such as mental psychosocial support and for survivors of gender-based violence in 39 IDPs camps in Bosaso where more than 132,000 are living. This was a major gap for survivors of gender-based violence suffering from mental illness including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder to have access to mental and psychological support to take back control of their bodies, sexuality, and lives.

As result of this, Hawa Feminist Coalition trained young feminist activists (including volunteers who are refugees or internally displaced persons) to provide mental and psychological support along medical care for survivors of gender-based violence from marginalized communities such as internally displaced persons and refugees in Bosaso, Somalia.

The main goal was to ensure that survivors of gender-based violence suffering from mental illness including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder have access to mental and psychological support to take back control of their bodies, sexuality, and lives. These include training of 100 young feminist activists (including volunteers who are refugees or internally displaced persons) on mental and psychosocial support skills to expand mental health and psychosocial services to marginalized communities in Bosaso.

This was a highly participatory and interactive training to involve all participants in the discussion centered on simplified and translated materials and to guide the participants on the training progress. The approach was based on problem-based learning using practical exercises, group work, role plays and case studies to keep trainees engaged in the training, which makes them more receptive to the knowledge. This  given the trainer in-session feedback on how well trainees are learning.

Th following subjects relating to the mental health and psychosocial support for GBV survivors were provided for the trainees:-

  1. Principles and guidelines for mental health and psychosocial support for GBV survivors
  2. Psychological First Aid
  3. Developing key mental health and psychosocial support messages for the affected
  4. Advocating for mental health and psychosocial support with key stakeholders
  5. Establishing mental health and psychosocial support activities and identifying and collaborating with key stakeholders in the community
  6. Developing a plan of action, coordination and cooperation with other peers

Hawa Feminist Coalition, the leading organization is entirely led by young feminist all under the age of 35. The project officer and trainees were also young women all under the age of 35. Hawa Feminist Coalition believed and involved its members and target youth members to provide input in the planning, designing and delivering of any activity to give them a sense of ownership and more sustainable into the future. Furthermore, there was a feedback and learning loop that allowed continuous program modification based on their input.

Hawa Feminist Coalition has members from the marginalized communities such as IDPs and refugees who are working to raise awareness against the widespread sexual and gender-based violence including domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape, female genital mutilation and early marriage. These members who are tireless working with survivors of gender-based violence in their communities will ensure that survivors of gender-based violence suffering from mental illness including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder have access to mental and psychological support to take back control of their bodies, sexuality, and lives.

This project was led by Ms. Mariam Mohamed Hussein, 21 years old young feminist activist who have been advocating for the safety, equality, justice, rights and dignity of young women and girls in Somalia where they bear an unequal brunt of hardships occasioned by poverty, conflict and clan-based culture which promotes strict male hierarchy and authority. Ms. Hussein is a co-founder of Hawa Feminist Coalition, the first feminist movement in Somalia, and trained 55 young women and girls on mental and psychological skills to support the survivors of gender-based violence suffering from mental illness including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in Somalia. Ms. Hussein was recognized and listed at WOW’s Young Leaders Directory in 2020.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign calling for an end to violence against women and girls. It takes place every year and begins on the 25th November, the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women and finishes on Human Rights Day, the 10th of December.

Usually on this occasion, Hawa Feminist Coalition undertakes series of awareness rising campaigns and conducts range of activities such as creating and publishing stories, messages and reports illustrating the experience, prevalence and thoughts of gender-based violence (GBV)  as well as sharing messages of solidarity and commitment to take action for an end of GBV.

You too can connect and join the campaign by creating your own stories, art and contents or further distributing our messages and stories in your social media networks. You can share with us your stories or strong messages to stop the violence and end the silence.

Hawa Feminist Coalition prepares the below social media graphics and messages that you can use for raising awareness during the activism days, post or redistribute through the online platforms.

Mention us in your social media posts and use the following hashtags to see and count in your contributions in the trends.

Hashtags: #16Days #orangetheworld #endGBV #orangeday #StopTheViolence #GenerationEquality

Our Social media accounts: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn

Send messages to:  16days@femsom.org

Statement On Appreciation of Puntland for Approval of Anti- Female Genital Mutilation Bill

We appreciate the cabinet of Puntland for approving the anti- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) bill as a key step towards a full ban on female genital mutilation in Puntland state in Somalia, where 98% of girls and women undergone FGM. We hope that the Parliament will follow suit and pass the bill smoothly for the benefit of rights of girls and women in the state.

We hope that this to be a good example to other authorities in Somalia and follow suite, and enact similar legal measures to ban female genital mutilation once and for all in their respective territories.

We will continue, together with other partners to advocate elimination of all forms of violence against girls and women in order to achieve a country where women and girls enjoy all their rights and live in dignity.

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HAWA FEMINIST COALITION
Bosaso, Puntland Somalia

The dead body of Nafisa Omar found in a cooking pot in Mogadishu

We are so saddened about tragic death of Nafiso Omar Gelle 12, who went on missing 3 days ago but found her dismembered and tortured body today in a big cooking pot in her family house in Mogadishu. We want to express our solidarity to our fallen sister’s family and relatives, colleagues, and to all young women and girls in the country who are grieving the loss of  beloved sister.

Somalia has been scarred by a series of high-profile sexual abuse cases recently and further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We urge the Police to conduct an immediate investigation into the death of Nafiso Omar Gelle and bring all those responsible to justice.

Jawahir A. Mohamed

Executive Director,

Hawa Feminist Coalition

Statement: Hawa Feminist Coalition condemns Two Sisters Killed In Mogadishu

Hawa Feminist Coalition condemns the death of Fahdi Adow Abdi and Faiza Adow Abdi in Mogadishu in the night of April 22, 2021 after a mortar landed in their house. We note with grave concern the increasing violence and repressive context against young women and girls these days.

We, members of Hawa Feminist Coalition want to express our solidarity to our fallen sisters’ family and colleagues and to all young women and girls in the country who are grieving the loss of these beloved sisters in Mogadishu.

We urge the Federal Government of Somalia and Benadir Regional Administration to conduct an immediate investigation into the killing of Fahdi Adow Abdi and Faiza Adow Abdi and bring all those responsible to justice.

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STATETEMENT: Call for Immediate Action on Rape and Murder of Innocent Girl in Bosaso

Very Sad! A body of young girl horrifically murdered was found lying on Bosaso street. The young girl seems to be raped and then murdered with her face beaten terribly, but still the exact cause of her death is yet to be determined and no one has been arrested for. We strongly condemn this horrifying act and call the government for immediate investigation and bring perpetrators to the justice.

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