Somalia activists have increased their campaigns for more women representation in politics.
On September 1, a two-day forum featuring women, youths, women’s rights activists, scholars, and politicians met in Mogadishu to discuss the agitation for 30 percent women quota.
For decades, the campaign for increased women representation has been quite intense.
The fact that Somalia is currently on an electioneering mood has given the activists more impetus to campaign better for increased quota.
Thus far, regional states have put in more efforts to improve the number of female elected leaders.
Hanifa Mohamed Ibrahim, the Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, attended the forum’s official opening ceremony.
She addressed the other participants. In her address, the minister said, “We must reserve seats for the women if Somalia is to achieve the goal of 30 percent increased representation.”
Hanifa urged Somalis to set aside one parliamentary seat out of every three for women leaders.
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) organized the meeting together with the Committee of Goodwill Women Ambassadors (GWA), Somalia Women Development Center (SWDC), and civil society.