Mogadishu, Somalia — A new investigative report has shed light on the widespread sexual and social harassment endured by Somali women in public bathing spots, underscoring a crisis that has gone largely unaddressed by authorities.
According to the findings, women frequenting popular recreation areas such as Mogadishu’s Lido Beach and the Shabelle River in HirShabelle are often subjected to verbal taunts, unwanted physical contact, and degrading remarks, even when dressed conservatively. Many describe these experiences as routine, leaving them vulnerable and fearful in spaces meant for leisure.
Despite repeated complaints from community members, security measures remain minimal. Observers note that police presence is often limited to general patrols, with little targeted enforcement to protect women in bathing areas. Proposals for gender-segregated swimming zones have surfaced, but critics argue that such measures risk shifting responsibility away from perpetrators while restricting women’s freedoms.
The report also highlights a culture of silence surrounding harassment. Social taboos, compounded by legal and institutional barriers, discourage victims from reporting incidents. Families often dissuade women from speaking out, fearing social stigma or retaliation. Those who attempt to seek justice face an opaque system that offers little protection or redress.
Bilan Media, Somalia’s only all-women newsroom and the team behind the investigation, described the issue as “a normalized form of violence” that erodes women’s sense of safety in public life. Their findings add to a growing body of evidence that women in Somalia face systemic gender-based threats, not only in conflict zones but also in everyday civilian spaces.
Civil society activists are urging both state institutions and local communities to confront the problem directly. Recommendations include deploying trained female officers at beaches and riverside gathering spots, strengthening legal protections against harassment, and supporting media efforts to expose abuses.
For many Somali women, reclaiming safe access to public recreation remains an uphill battle. Until accountability and security measures improve, leisure spaces like Lido Beach will continue to symbolize not freedom, but vulnerability.