On Monday night, 8 December 2025, Hawa Feminist Coalition convened a powerful Community Engagement and Solidarity Event in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, bringing together more than 100 Somali feminist activists, young women leaders, women’s rights advocates, women in politics, and influential community voices.
Held in alignment with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the event created a safe, inclusive, and energizing space for dialogue, reflection, and collective action—rooted in feminist solidarity and a shared commitment to justice, dignity, and equality for women and girls.
A Space for Collective Feminist Power
The gathering was designed to strengthen networking, collaboration, and coordination among women’s movements and emerging leaders across Puntland and beyond. Participants engaged in open and honest conversations on the most pressing challenges facing Somali women and girls, recognizing that meaningful change requires unity, trust, and sustained collective action.
The event was grounded in cultural respect, spiritual reflection, and feminist leadership, allowing participants to connect not only as advocates, but as a community committed to healing, resilience, and shared purpose.
Key Discussions: From Dialogue to Action
Discussions during the event focused on identifying practical, action-oriented solutions to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in all its forms. Key themes included:
- Technology-facilitated violence and digital safety, particularly for young women and girls
- Economic violence and exclusion, and the need for women’s economic empowerment
- Legal protections and accountability, including gaps in enforcement
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
- Women’s leadership and political participation as tools for prevention and reform
Young women leaders and emerging activists were intentionally centered, reinforcing the importance of intergenerational leadership, innovation, and youth-led advocacy within Somalia’s feminist movement.
Powerful Outcomes and Collective Commitments
The event resulted in several significant outcomes:
- Strengthened feminist solidarity and networks, with participants committing to sustained collaboration across regions and sectors
- Clear advocacy priorities to address evolving forms of violence against women and girls
- A unified call to action demanding justice, protection, survivor-centered services, and policy reform
- Renewed momentum for collective feminist organizing and coordinated advocacy
Participants also collectively demanded the swift endorsement of the Total Ban of FGM Bill by the Puntland Parliament, as well as the adequate and effective implementation of the Puntland Sexual Offences Bill, emphasizing accountability, survivor protection, and access to justice.
A United Call to Action
The event concluded with a strong and unified message: Ending GBV in Somalia requires political will, legal enforcement, community engagement, and sustained investment in feminist movements.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to:
- Survivor-centered protection and support systems
- Stronger laws and implementation mechanisms
- Solidarity, collaboration, and networking among young women leaders and women’s rights organizations
- Holding duty-bearers accountable at all levels
As echoed throughout the night, solidarity is not symbolic—it is strategic, necessary, and powerful.
Gratitude and Moving Forward
Hawa Feminist Coalition extends sincere appreciation to Goethe-Institut Johannesburg’s House of African Feminisms and the German Federal Foreign Office for their principled support and commitment to amplifying Somali women’s leadership.
We also thank the speakers, moderators, volunteers, media partners, and every participant whose courage, insight, and energy made this gathering transformative.
The Community Engagement and Solidarity Event was more than a gathering—it was a reaffirmation of collective power, resilience, and hope. As we move forward, Hawa Feminist Coalition remains committed to building feminist futures rooted in justice, dignity, and freedom for all women and girls in Somalia.
Solidarity in Action for Justice — United Against GBV. 
