WOMEN’S RIGHTS: SOMALI WOMEN’S PAST EXPERIENCES AND PRESENT REALITIES

Abstract

Armed conflict negatively affects people particularly women and children who is regarded as the most vulnerable groups among societies. The civil war that erupted Somalia in the early 1991, endangered everyone. Since the collapse of the central government, the country experienced prolonged civil war and chaos, which has taken almost two decades. Destruction of state structures accompanied by huge violation of human rights subjected to women and girls. The civil war same as it affects people negatively, it also brings unintentional and progressive changes to the societies which is the case of Somali women who acquired new roles and responsibilities during the decades of war. On the other hand, in post-conflict settings new government structures established with constitution adopted. Social, political and economic transformation occurs within the post-conflict spaces. Based on this setting, this study is destined to examine the extent of human rights violations specifically subjected to women and girls. It also traces the role of Somali women played during the conflict particularly their role in peace building efforts of the country. The study further evaluates if any progress being made in regard to women political participation in post-conflict period with analysis on the issues preventing women to fully participate in Somali politics. The thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter is partly an introduction that presents general image of the thesis with methodology and the objectives of the study. The other part lays foundation for the theoretical framework of the study and presents also literature review based on the study variables. The second chapter emphasizes how the main international human rights instruments protect and promote women rights. The third chapter discusses the past of Somali women in which detailed image of women in the traditional Somalia was given. The chapter also sheds light the status of women in two periods; post colonial period and the revolutionary period. While the fourth chapter analyzes, human rights violation against women during the conflict. Also the opportunities that the war endowed to Somali women and the role they played in making peace. It further discusses women political representation and the factors that impede women’s involvement in the politics. The last chapter is the conclusion part where the finding of the study is shortly presented and recommendations made based on the results found.