Somalia Holds Consultative Meeting in Mogadishu on Joining the CEDAW Agreement

Mogadishu – The Acting Minister of Family Affairs and Human Rights, also the Deputy Minister of the Ministry, Mr. Mohamed Osman Omar (Naasataro), officially opened today in Mogadishu a consultative meeting attended by various stakeholders, which discussed the Republic of Somalia's accession to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The Deputy Minister emphasized in his opening speech the importance of promoting gender equality, protecting women's rights, and strengthening the role of government institutions and various sectors of society in combating all forms of discrimination against women.

He stated that the meeting, organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), is an important opportunity to enhance public understanding of the CEDAW agreement and to discuss how Somalia can accede to it.

Additionally, the meeting will present practical recommendations that can serve as a basis for the plan and pathway for the process of joining the agreement.

The Deputy Minister added that the consultation should be based on the country's Constitution, fully considering the religion, culture, and social circumstances of Somalia.

He also stressed the importance of including discussions and consultations involving government institutions, Parliament, the judiciary, women's organizations, civil society, scholars, traditional elders, the media, and youth, to obtain diverse perspectives that can contribute to the process.

Finally, the Minister of the Ministry of Family Affairs and Human Rights Development praised the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) for organizing the meeting, while also thanking UN Women for their support in holding the conference.