Role of women in the peace process (December 9th, 2002)

WOMEN’S ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS English transcript December 2002 MUSIC MIC: Welcome to this programme, produced by IRIN… IRIN, the humanitarian news agency of the United Nations. Peace talks for Somalia have been taking place in Eldoret, Kenya, since October 15th, under the auspices of the regional body IGAD. All the main faction leaders and political groups are represented, as well as civil society. In this programme, we will be looking at the role that Somali women are playing in the peace process. SHORT TRANSITION Kenya’s Elijah Mwangale is chairman of the IGAD technical committee, which is mediating the talks. He told IRIN that women have been playing a very important part in the talks so far… MWANGALE (Voiceover) The women who are here have been responsible for pushing this process better than anybody else, because they have taken a stand, and whenever these warlords have tended to be difficult, they have come up with much more force. So they have balanced the actual military, warlord force by providing the counterbalance that was necessary. They’ve done a very good job. MIC: Indeed, in recent weeks, the leaders’ committee of the conference has chosen a woman from civil society, Zarah Ugaas Farah, to chair its meetings. Zarah told IRIN how she sees the role of women in this peace process… Zahra Women have a big role to play in peace building and no peace that has not been partly brought about by women ever succeeds. An example is the clamour for independence in Somalia in the 1960’s where women played a great role and supported the movement for independence. Here in Eldoret women can take a big part as they are the most affected by the Civil War and thus need peace more than anybody else. That is why women are here and have left their children and families with the sole objective of finding peace. IRIN: Do you think that your personal role here is equally important? Zahra: Well I am part of the Somali women fraternity and I would love to live in peace with my children, and peace for my country and countrymen. I am seeking this and it’s my feeling that this is the objective of every Somali woman. MIC: Some women feel, however, that their presence in Eldoret should have been stronger. Maryan Hussein is chairperson of the Dr Ismail Jimale Human Rights Organisation in Mogadishu. She told IRIN that only thirty-two percent of civil society delegates to the conference are women… Maryan Women here are a minority as they are very few, and to me it seems that there is a specific bias against women and the civil society as a whole. IRIN: Do you feel that the women’s small number would affect the role they would have played in the conference? Maryan: I attended the Arta peace conference in Djibouti where the women played a pivotal role. Culturally it seems as if the Somali men are more obedient to calls from women when they are mediating in conflict. It would be important, I feel, if the number of women delegates was increased so that they could play their peace making roles. IRIN: Are there specific problems faced by women in the Somali Conflict? Maryan: When we are speaking of problems we are not only speaking of the last twelve years but more than 33 years when violations of rights were taking place. When there were governments, the governments themselves conducted treacherous acts against civilians, mainly women and this included mainly rape. We can comfortably say that Somali women have been facing persecutions for the past 33 years and they are now very tired. If these problems don’t stop, then we would suggest to the International Community that women and children be taken out of Somalia as we are quite tired of the barbaric acts taking place in our country. JINGLE MIC: Women’s representatives earlier complained to the IGAD conference organizers that they did not have enough delegates. They were subsequently given fifteen observers. Hawo Ugas Farah is one of the women observers. She says their role is important… Hawo Ugas Farah First of all, the real reconciliation is what the observers are doing every night, going to houses, lobbying and consulting. So we are taking the lion’s share. We scored a success on the first day that warlords did not manage to agree, the conference was close to collapse.. We demonstrated and gathered outside the meeting and that was when they signed the ceasefire agreement. TRANSITION MIC: The peace process has now gone into its second phase, with work to be conducted in six technical committees. The committees are to make recommendations to the conference on issues such as federalism, demobilization and land rights. But civil society support groups complain that women’s representation in the committees is even smaller than to the conference plenary. The highest percentage is the committee dealing with conflict resolution and reconciliation, where women have 20 percent of the members. Sakiya C/salaan Caalim is a delegate to the conference, and also on the executive committee which is trying to coordinate civil society input into the peace process…. Sakiya C/salaan Caalim “The women in the committees are 24 in number. I am not happy with that number, it is very small, but at least we are represented, at least on each committee there are two or three women. But that is small number because there are professional and educated women out there who want to be included” MIC: IRIN asked Zarah Ugaas Farah, civil society activist and chair of the leaders’ committee, if women were sufficiently trained to play a role on the technical committees… Zahra: Women have been taught and hardened by the conflict itself. I don’t think they have enough training but I very well know that there are areas where they can contribute immensely. IRIN: Which are these areas? Zahra: Examples are the drafting of the Interim constitution, returning land and property to their original owners, peace building, demobilisation and the economy. But the issue of human rights being a complex and intricate one would entail a bit of training for the women to contribute. MIC: Dutch non-governmental organisation NOVIB is providing support to Somali civil society groups in Eldoret, which have established their own Core Group to coordinate activities. C/laahi Maxamed Shirwac is chairman of this Core group, which also conducts training and workshops. He spoke to IRIN about the Core Group’s activities… C/laahi Maxamed Shirwac CORE Group “We hedl at least five meetings for women in order to discuss and agree, and our aim is not to force the people but to facilitate help them reach a common position. We provide equipment, a place to meet, and help with their agenda. So the women are playing a good role, although they are still divided into clans and small groups. Yet I believe the women should be a big force for implementing peace and reconciliation.” The training we did so far is how to do advocacy and lobbying, how to persuade people and convey your ideas without conflict and quarrelling.” I believe that Somali women have a very strong influence for reconciliation, so if they manage to use that influence, if Somali women in this process manage to free themselves from the clan attitude and work for the greater benefit of Somali people, they can be the first force in this process.” MIC: That was civil society activist C/laahi Maxamed Shirwac in Eldoret, ending this programme on the role of women in the Somali peace process. Thank you for listening. This programme was brought to you by IRIN… IRIN, the humanitarian news agency of the United Nations. DOORKA HAWEENKA EE HANAANKA NABADA QORAALKA SOOMAALIGA MUSIC MIC: Kusoo dhawaada dhageystayaal Barnaamijkan oo uu soo saaray Raadiyaha IRIN ee Wakaalada Wararka Bini’aadanimada IRIN ee Qaramada Midoobay. Wada hadalada nabada Soomaaliya ayaa weli ka soconaya Magaalada Eldoret ee Dalka Kenya, Wada hadalka oo bilawday 15 bishii October ayaa waxaa soo qabanqaabiyey Urur goboleedka IGAD, Ergooyinka ka qeybgalaya waxaa ka mid ah Hogaamiyeyaasha Kooxaha, kuwa siyaasada iyo Bulshada rayidka ah. Barnaamijkan waxaanu ku eegi doonaa doorka ay ka ciyaarayaan Haweenka Soomaaliyeed Hanaanka Nabada. SHORT TRANSITION Elijah Mwangale waa gudoomiyaha Gudiga Farsamada IGAD ee dhexdhexaadinaya wada hadalada nabada ee Soomaalida, Waxaa IRIN uu u sheegay in Haweenku ilaa iyo haatan ay door muhiim ah ka ciyaarayaan Wada hadalada ka soconaya Magaalada Eldoret … MWANGALE Haweenka halkan jooga waxa ay mas’uuliyad iska saareen sidii ay horey ugu riix lahaayeen shirkan, sababtoo ah waxay iska taageen door muuqda, markasta oo qabqablayaasha dagaalku arintoodu adkaato, waxay la soo baxaan awood waxtar leh sidaa darteed waxay keeneen miisaam, marka kasta oo ay awood la soo baxaan Hogaamiyeyaasha taasi oo lagama maarmaan ah. Runtii waxa ay qabteen shaqo wanaagsan. MIC: Todobaayadii ugu danbeeyey Gudiga Hogaamiyeyaasha ee shirka waxa uu u doortay Sahro Ugaas Faarax oo ka socota Ururada Bulshada Rayidka ah inay shir gudoomiso kulamada ay yeelanayaan, Sahra waxa ay IRIN uga warantay sida ay u aragto doorka haweenka ay ku leeyihiin hanaanka Nabada… (MD A Track 2… beginning?) Zahra: Haweenku door aad iyo aad muhiim u ah ayay ku leeyihiin nabada, nabad aanay haween dhelina maba soconeyso, waxaa taas tusaale u ah hadaan dib ugu noqono gobonimo doonkii xoriyadii soomaalida ee 60 kii qeybtii ay ka qaatteen, sidii firfircoonida lahayd ee garab ay u siiyeen SYL, waxaa taas ay noqon kartaa furihii haweenku ay heysteen oo nabada ay u heleen. Maanta oo aan halkaan joogno Haweenku waxa ay leeyihiin door aad muhiim u ah ay ka qaataan nabadaayaga weeye kuwa dhibaatooyinka dagaalka mar kasta ku dhacaan ayaa ilmahoodii ku waayay iyagaa ragoodii ku waayay, waxaan qabaa in Haweenku yihiin kuwa ugu fara dhuudhuuban ee hormuudka u ah in nabad la helo. IRIN: Sideed u aragta adoorka aad adigu halkan ku leedahaya ma mid adag baa? Ma u maleyneysaa in Doorkaada uu muhiimad leeyahay? Zahra: waa mid adag haa, anigu dee haweenkaan la mid ahay waxaan ahay qof haween ah oo nabad jecel, waxaan jeclahay aniga iyo ilmahayga inaan nabad ku wada noolaano, waxaan jeclahay in wadankeyga nabad ay saameyso oo qof kasta uu shaqo helo oo qof kasta uu nabad helo oo qofkasta waxbarasho ama shaqo usoo kaco, marka waxaan raadinaayaa waa intaa qofkasta oo haween ahna taas ayuu jecel yahay. MIC: Si kastaba ha ahaatee Haweenka qaarkood waxa ay aaminsan yihiin in joogitaankooda Eldoret ay tahay in tiro lagu kordhiyo. Maryan Hussein Awreeye waa Gudoomiyaha Xaruunta Dr Ismail Jimale ee Xuquuqda aadanaha ee Muqdisho fadhigeedu yahay, Maryna waxa ay IRIN u sheegtay in 32% keliya ay yihiin haween ergada ka socota Bulshada rayidka ah … (Maryan, MD B Track 10) Haweenka meeshan cod kuma laha waxaan ku nahay minority yacni waxa aan rabno kama hadli karno saan rabno wax uma sheegi karno maxaa dhacay waxaa naga badan tirada meeshaan joogto ee kale ayaa naga badan Ururada bulshadana waa la caburiyey waxaad moodaa in si loo cadaadinaayo. Oo si loo joojiyey inay yimaadaan shirarkaan oo kale IRIN: Ma u maleyneysaa in tirada yar ee haweenka ay saameeyn ku yeelan karto doorkii ay ka ciyaari lahaayeen shirka? Maryan: Waxaan qabaa waxaa marqaati u ah shirweynihii Carta haweenka door weyn bay ka qaateen oo ah inay raga isku soo jiidaan dhaqan ahaan raga Soomaaliyeed waxaad moodaa inay haweenka uga dhago nugul yihiin, marka ay raga kale nabadeyn ka dhexraadinayaan kuwa is dirirrey marka waa wanaagsanaan lahayd in haweenka y usoo bataan halkaasi si ay u muuqato ka haweenimo iyagoo raadinaaya nabad IRIN: Ma waxaa jira dhibaatooyin gaar ah oo soo gaaray haweenka Soomaaliyeed Maryan: Walaahi wey jirtaa, horta markaan dhibaato ka hadlayno ma aha laba iyo toban kaan sano waa sodon iyo sadexdii sano ee ugu danbeysay, ee yacni ka danbeysay waqtigii xoriayada la qaatay, 33daa sano waxaa iska dhacayay xadgudubyo, waxaa dhacaayay gabdho la fara xumeeyo aanba ka soo bilawno gobolada dhexe waqtigaasi oo uu jiray nidaam dawli ah oo lagu fuliyey xadgudubyadaasi nidaam dawli ah, waxaan dhihi karnaa haweenka soomaaliyeed 33 sano waxa ay ku jireen dhibaato xadgudubyo, anaga hadaan ahween nahay waan daalnay Soomaaliya haday saas sii ahaato waxaan Caalamka usoo jeedin doonaa hadaan wadankaas la nabadeyn in Caruurta iyo haweenka laga wado Soomaaliya oo Unk-a meel kaleeto na geeyaan, Soomaaliya anaga rajo danbe oo aan kusii joogno ma jirto maxaa dhacay adkeysigii wuu naga dhamaaday sababtoo ah waan daalnay maskaxiyan ayaan ka daalnay jismiyan ayaan ka dalaanay mana usii adkeysan karno xadgudubyo danbe iyo dagaal danbe. JINGLE MIC: Haweenka waxa ay markii hore Cabasho ku aadan tirada xubnaha matalaya oo aan ku filneyn ay u gudbiyeen gudiga IGAD, waxaana markii danbe la siiyey 15 xubnood oo korjoogayaal ah. Hawo Ugas Farah oo ka mid tahay shan iyo tobankaasi xubnood waxa ay sheegtay in kaalintooda ay tahay muhiim. … Hawo Ugas Farah “horta sideedu nabadeyntu ma aha mida shirka loo fadhiyo keliya ee waxaa weeye nabaeyntu mida rasmiga ahi waa mida observer –ka iyo kuwa aanu ahaynba ay hayaan oo habeen walba shirarka la isugu soo noqonayo oo guryaha la isugu tagayo, oo qabiilka la isugu tagayo oo ururada la isugu tagayo midaasaana kaalin lixaad leh ka qaadaneynaa” “Guul baan ka gaarnay sida runta ah maalinkii ugu horeysay oo la is mari waayey, oo ay warlords-yadu ay sameeyeen inay isu yimaadaan oo ay shirkii in lagu kala tago ay tahay, mudaharaad ayaanu sameynay iridka ayaanu tuuranay isla saacadii ayaanuna guushii gaarnay, waxaana lagu sameeyey saxiixii xabad joojinta marka guulaha aan gaarnay ma tirsana” TRANSITION MIC: Shirku Magaalad Eldoret waxa iminka uu galay wejigiisii labaad, kaasi oo hawlihiisa ay qabanayaan lix gudi Farsamo oo shirka talooyin uga soo bixin doona arrimaha ay ka shaqeynayaa sida hanaanka isu taga Dawliga ah ee Federalsimka, arrimaha hub ka dhigista iyo dhaqancelinta iyo xuquuqda dhulka iyo hantida. Laakiin qeybaha Bulshada rayidka ay taageeraan ah waxa ay ka cabanayaan in Xubnaha Haweenka ka matalaya gudiyada ay tiro ahaan ka yar yihiin xubnaha shirweynaha ugu jira. Waxaana tirada ugu badan ay ku leeyihiin gudiga arrimaha xalinta khilaafaadka iyo dib u heshiisiinta oo ay haweenku yihiin boqolkiiba labaatan. Sakiya C/salaan Caalim waa xubin ka mid ah ergada shirka isla markaan ka tirsan gudiga fulinta ee bulshada rayidka ah oo isagu aagaasima hawsha Bulshada rayidka ee Shirka…. Sakiya C/salaan Caalim “Gudiyada gabdhaha ka qeybgalay waxa weeye 24, kuma faraxsani waa nagu yar yihiin laakiin iyada naftigeedu waa wax waxku ool ah oo aad baa loo tixgeliyey waloow numberku aad noogu yar yahay, committee ugu yarba laba gabdhood ayaa ku jirta, qaar sadex, qaar afar laakiin weli waa nagu yartahay gabdho badan oo professional ah oo mutacalimiin ah ayaa banaanka ka joogo oo in lagu daro la rabaa” MIC: IRIN waxa ay weydiisay Sahra Ugaas Farah, oo u dooda Bulshada Rayidka ah isla markaan shir gudoomisa Gudiga Hogaamiyeyaasha hadii haweenka si wanaagsan loo tababaro in ay door ka ciyaari karaan gudiyada farsamada … Zahra: Haweenka masiibadaan, dhibkaan iyo dagaaladaan ayaa macalin ka dhigtay, laakiin ma qabo inay heleen tababaro ku filan oo ku saabsan xuquuqul aadanah oo kale wax badan oo saas ah kama sheegi karaan laakiin meelaha kaleeto aad iyo aad ayay u buuxin karaan. IRIN: Meelaha ay wax ka qaban karaan maxaa ka mid ah Zahra: waxaa ka mid ah oo kaleeto axdiga la dhisaayo, waxaa ka mid ah dhul isku celinta oo kaleeto ama dhul lahaanshaha, waxaa ka mid ah nabad raadinta, waxaa ka mid ah hub ka dhigista, dhaqaalaha waxyaabahaasi oo dhan waa u leeyihiin laakiin xoogaa waxaad moodaa xaga Xuquuqul Insaanka inay leedahay qodobo muhiim ah oo taas ay u baahan tahay cilmiyo iyo ogaansho fara badan. MIC: Hey’ada NOVIB oo ah hey’ad aan dawli ahayn oo laga leeyahay dalka Holland ayaa waxa ay taageertaa Ururada Bulshada Rayidka ee Soomaaliyeed ee ku sugan Shirka Eldoret, kuwaasi oo sameystay Ergada Taageerida Nabada (CORE GROUP) oo isku xireysa hawlahaasi. C/laahi Maxamed Shirwac waxa uu gudoomiye ku xigeen ka yahay Hey’ada Tubta Nabada ee saldhigeedu yahay Magaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana waxa uu xubin ka yahay gudiga Fulinta INXA iyo Ergada la magac baxday CORE Group waxaana IRIN uu uga waramaya hawlaha ay qabtaan ….. C/laahi Maxamed Shirwac CORE Group “Haweenka markay ugu yartahay ilaa shan jeer ayaan kulan u sameynay inay iyagu isku afgartaan inay wada hadlaan, anagu ujeedayadu ma aha inaan cidna wax ku qasabno laakiin waxa weeyaan cid walba inaynu u fududeyno, cid walba oo wanaag dooneysa inaan u fududeyno wanaagaa sidii ay ku gaari lahayd ama qalab ay isticmaalaan oo loo fududeeyo ama meel ay ku shiraan oo loo qabto ama ajendaha oo lagala shqeeyo waxyaabahaas ayaan ku kaalmeynaa, dumarkuna door fiican wey soo dheeleen walool halkii aanu rabnay aysan gaarin oo weli qabiilkii iyo waxyaabo yaryar ay ku mashquulsan yihiin. Hadana waxaan aaminsanahay in ugu danbeynta ay noqon doonaan xoog weyn oo nabada iyo dib heshiisiinta gacan weyn ka geysta iyo hirgelinteedaba” IRIN: Maxaa ka mid ah tababarada aad u qabateen. “Tababarada aan u qabanay waxaa ka mid ah waxayaabahan afka ingiirska lagu yiraahdo lobinka iyo advocacy-ga yacni cid waliba wax ay rabto oo isku raacsan tahay oo koox ahaan ay wadatao sidii ay ku meel marsan lahayd sidii ay dadka uga dhaadhicin lahayd, iyagoo aan ku qasbin, iaygoo aan dhibaato iyo buuq iyo khilaaf midna abuurin inay dadku ka qaataan ra’yigooda” “Waxaan aaminsanahay haweenka soomaaliyeed inuu ku jiro itaal fara badan oo dib u heshiisiineed, itaalkaas hadii lagu guuleeysto in la abaabulo oo gabdhaha Soomaaliyeed ee shirka kasoo qeybgalaya sida aan u arkeyno, sidaasi oo kale ay u arkaan oo ay ka xoroobaan gadaal u jiidashada qabiilku gadaal u jiidanayo oo ay la yimaadaan talo Soomaaliyeed ama talo Soomaali anfacaysa, waxay noqon karaan xooga ugu horeeya oo wax weyn ka qaata oo cid kasta oo isku daynad inay lug jiido dib u heshiisiintan cadaadis culus oo ay aysan u adkeysan karin saari kara” MIC: kaasina waxa uu ahaa C/laahi Maxamed Shirwac Gudoomiyaha oo gudoomiye ku xigeen ka hey’ada Tubnta Nabada isla markaana xubin ka ah Ergada taageerida nabada oo aanu ku soo gababayneyno Barnaamijkan aanu kaga hadlaynay Doorka haweenka ay ku leeyihiin hanaanka dib u heshiisiinta Soomaaliya. Waad ku mahadsan tihiin dhageysigii Barnaamijkan oo uu soo saaray raadiyaha IRIN ee Wakaalada Wararka Bini’aadanimada IRIN ee Jamciyada Quruumaha ka dhaxeysa. MUSIC