HUMAN RIGHTS & GENDER EQUITY

Human Rights Problem Area In Somalia 

In Somalia there is for the moment a lack of legal and human rights resources partly due to the existing combination of traditional and customary justice, Sharia/ Islamic law and the pre 1991 penal code which has resulted in unequal access to justice for marginalized groups.  This also leads to limited information channels to inform and educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities. This leads to low knowledge among all citizens about human rights.

In addition the low education level in the society leads to a limited number  educated professionals particularly in law , which together with limited economic resources  necessary for maintaining the functions of the  state institutions leads to low presence of judicial system/ institutions at local level. This leads to unequal access to justice for marginalized groups leading to abuse of human rights which in turn leads to poverty and violent conflict.

Traditional community leaders have limited knowledge of human rights and especially child rights which leads to violence and discrimination against women and children. Together with low knowledge about the effects of abuse of women and children there is also no support system for them thus leading to abuse of rights especially of women and girls?

DANDOR conducted four human rights workshops in Sanaag, and Bari regions in puntland state of Somalia in last five years, including civil society activists, community leaders, women, youth, and government officials.

Gender Equity is the process of allocating resources, programs, and decision making fairly to both males and females without any discrimination on the basis of sex…and addressing any imbalances in the benefits available to males and females.